Can koi live with clown loaches?

Verdict
No

No. Koi and clown loaches should not share a tank. Koi are coldwater animals (59–77°F); clown loaches need 77–86°F. They meet only at 77°F, the edge of both ranges.

KoiKoi59–77°F · pH 7–8.5 Clown loachClown loach77–86°F · pH 6–7.5

What to watch

What works

Water side by side

55°60°65°70°75°80°85°90°Both: 77°Koi 59–77°Clown loach 77–86°
The green band is the temperature range both can live in.
456789Both: 7–7.5Koi 7–8.5Clown loach 6–7.5
The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Koi · 24 inClown loach · 8 in0"6"12"18"24"
Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

KoiClown loach
Temperature59–77 °F77–86 °F
pH7–8.56–7.5
Adult size24.0 in8.0 in
Minimum tankPond75 gal
TemperamentPeacefulPeaceful
Swims atAll levelsBottom
GroupGroups of 3+Groups of 5+
DietOmnivoreOmnivore

Better tank mates for koi

All koi tank mates

Better tank mates for clown loaches

All clown loach tank mates

Questions

Can koi live with clown loaches?

No. Koi and clown loaches should not share a tank. Koi are coldwater animals (59–77°F); clown loaches need 77–86°F. They meet only at 77°F, the edge of both ranges.

What temperature suits both koi and clown loaches?

77–77 °F. Koi need 59–77 °F, clown loaches need 77–86 °F.

What size tank do koi and clown loaches need together?

A pond. Koi outgrow indoor tanks.