Clown Loach (small size)

Name: Clown Loach (small size) - Gensou Premium Aquascaping
Brand: Gensou
SKU: clown-loach
Price: 3.00 SGD
Availability: OutOfStock

Chromobotia macracanthus · Peaceful · Intermediate care

$3.00
You save

Out of stock

Ask on WhatsApp

SKU: clown-loach

Tags: Bottom Feeder Fish, Tropical Freshwater Fish

Intermediate care Peaceful Schooling - keep in groups of 5+ Bottom dweller

At a glance

Species profile Chromobotia macracanthus

Origin

Rivers of Sumatra and Borneo, Indonesia

Family

Botiidae (botiid loach family)

Adult size

Up to 30 cm (12 in)

Diet

Sinking pellets, frozen foods and vegetables; relishes snails (Omnivore)

Temperament

Peaceful

Swimming level

Bottom

Minimum group

5+ (shoaling)

Lifespan

15-25 years

Minimum tank

450 L (120 gal)

Water type

Freshwater

Size to scale

30 cm adult length, shown to scale against an iPhone 15 Pro (14.66 cm).

Natural range

Where it comes from — Southeast Asia

Rivers of Sumatra and Borneo, Indonesia

Water

Singapore tap water vs its needs

pH 6–7.5 tap 8

Temperature 25°–30° tap 29°

Hardness (dGH) 2–12 tap 3

Hardness: Soft to medium (2-12 dGH).

Adjusting pH the natural way — Singapore tap water (pH ~8.0) sits above this fish's ideal. Soften and gently lower pH the natural way — driftwood, catappa (Indian almond) leaves or other botanicals. Skip chemical "pH-down".

In the aquarium

How it lives in the tank

Swims in the bottom of the tank

Keep in a group of 5+

Gensou's take 3/5

Sensitivity Index — Moderate

Adaptable, but happiest with stable parameters in a matured tank.

Our own read on how forgiving this species is of water changes — not a formal standard.

Keeping & care

What this fish needs

Special care — Grows very large and long-lived, so needs a big tank in a group of five or more with pristine warm water and many caves; sensitive to ich and medications.

Family

About the Botiidae family botiid loach family

Botiidae are the botiid loaches, elongated, active bottom-dwellers from South and Southeast Asia that include the clown loach, yoyo loach and dwarf chain loach. They are social, playful and intelligent, best kept in groups where they form a lively pecking order, and many are enthusiastic snail-eaters. They prefer clean, well-oxygenated water with plenty of caves, and larger species like the clown loach need big tanks as they grow.

Keep botiid loaches in a group of five or more with soft sand, caves and driftwood, and stable, well-oxygenated water — they are sensitive to poor conditions and prone to whitespot when stressed.

Breeding

Egg-scatterer (rarely bred in aquaria)

Botiid loaches are egg-scatterers that are very difficult to breed at home; most in the trade are commercially hormone-induced or wild-caught. They mature slowly and rarely spawn in ordinary aquarium conditions, so hobby breeding is uncommon and not something to rely on.

Feeding