Clown loach care
Water temperature
77–86°F
Keep clown loaches at 77–86°F with a pH of 6–7.5, in a tank of at least 75 gallons. Good tank mates include angelfish, oscars, tiger barbs.
Grows big and lives for decades. Keep five or more; eats snails.
Chromobotia macracanthus
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Minimum tank
- 75 gal
- Adult size
- 8.0 in
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Group
- Groups of 5+
- Lifespan
- 15–20 years
- Swims at
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
Best tank mates
AngelfishYes
OscarYes
Tiger barbYes
Kuhli loachYes
Yoyo loachYes
SeverumYes
Pearl gouramiYes
DiscusYes
Kissing gouramiYes
Congo tetraYes
Blue gouramiYes
Firemouth cichlidYes
Full clown loach tank mate chart: 40 yes, 38 with care, 20 no
Clown loach water compared
Fish to keep away from clown loaches
- Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); clown loaches need 77–86°F. No temperature suits both.
- African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful clown loaches.
- Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); clown loaches need 77–86°F. No temperature suits both.
- Jack Dempsey Jack dempseys are aggressive and will bully peaceful clown loaches.
- Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 8 inches clown loaches do.
- Flowerhorn Flowerhorns are aggressive and will bully peaceful clown loaches.
- Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful clown loaches.
- Cherry shrimp A clown loach is big enough to swallow adult cherry shrimp.
More loaches
Questions
What temperature do clown loaches need?
77–86 °F. Keep it steady with a heater.
What size tank does a clown loach need?
At least 75 gallons for a group. Adults reach about 8 inches.
How many clown loaches should I keep?
Groups of 5+. They are schooling fish and stress when kept alone.
What fish can live with clown loaches?
Angelfish, Oscars, Tiger barbs, Kuhli loaches, Yoyo loaches, Severums, among others. See the full list of 40 good matches.