Clown loach

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Clown loach

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cobitidae
Genus:	Chromobotia
Species:	C. macracanthus

Binomial name

Chromobotia macracanthus
(Bleeker, 1852)

A clown loach Chromobotia macracanthus, (formerly Botia macracanthus) is a freshwater fish belonging to the loach family (Cobitidae) and is the sole member of the genus Chromobotia. Originating in Asia on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, it is commonly kept as a pet in tropical aquaria. They have orange fins with 3 black bands on an orange body and some barbels about their mouth which are used to feel around for food. Often sold in the pet trade at around 1.5 inches, they do grow fast until about 5 inches at which time their growth slows to a maximum length of 11.8 in (30.0 cm). There are no known cases of clowns breeding in captivity, partly due to the fact that they do not reach sexual maturity until after nine or ten years of age. Clown loaches may live for up to 50 years.^{[citation needed]}

A harmless, very active, social fish, they are best kept in groups of 5 or more and due to their potential size an aquarium of 6 feet x 2 feet x 2 feet should be the minumum size used. These fish have bifurcated suboccular spines located under their eyes and used as a defence mechanism. If a loach deploys its spines while caught in a net, untangling it is difficult and can cause severe injury. It is also a good idea when moving larger specimens to double or triple bag them or use a solid container. Some owners have been stabbed while trying to catch or touch these fish. When kept in groups smaller than 5, they may spend more time hiding under obstacles in the water.

They are also found to make clicking noises when excited or eating. Sometimes they lie on their sides on the bottom of the tank and appear to be dead. This is a common event and the aquarist should be aware of this fact or unnecessary removal may occur. They natively live in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 5.0 - 8.0 pH, a water hardness of 5.0 - 12.0 dGH, and an ideal temperature range of 77 - 86 °F (25 - 30 °C). They eat small worms, crustaceans, brine shrimp, and plant matter. Most clown loaches accept commercial flake food as their dietary staple, but thrive with the addition of live food or freeze-dried (tubifex worms, especially if it is fortified) and frozen brine shrimp (always thaw frozen food to aquarium temperature).

If you have noticed that your clown loaches do not come out of hiding, there are some easy things to adjust so that your clown loaches will be more comfortable. A good tank setup for a clown loach should include ample shade, plants (plastic or real), hiding places and other peaceful fishes. Make sure the environment is not too bright. Provide shade from tank lighting. The tank should not be next to a window. Clown loaches are keen observers of other fish in the aquarium; they observe and react accordingly. If other fish are skittish and hide, clowns will observe this and do the same. Make sure that other fish in your community tank are docile and not prone to hide.

Because clown loaches come from rivers and streams, they are accustomed to having other fishes and plants in their environment. Not having plants and/or other fishes can cause clown loaches to become stressed and to go into hiding. Another important thing to remember is that since they do come from a fast moving river environment, they need a tank with lots of clear, well filtered and fast moving water which can be achieved with proper filtration and the use of powerheads. Before introducing clown loaches to your tank, make sure the fish you currently have are compatible because aggressive fish will stress your clown loaches and may need to be removed. Also, clown loaches are particularly susceptible to Ichthyophthirius (ich), so watch them closely when initially adding them to your tank and when you introduce new fish. Ich usually deals the typical clown loach a poor prognosis since the standard treatment is especially toxic to the clown's "skin-type" and the dose must be halved and is therefore less effective.

You should also provide a variety of foods for your loaches. Upon feeding your clown loaches, observe their behavior. In a community tank always make sure that enough food gets to the bottom where these fish usually feed. Clown loaches thrive with a variety of food: live (worms, brine shrimp, small snails), plant matter, freeze-dried (tubifex worms, especially if it is fortified) and frozen brine shrimp (always thaw frozen food to aquarium temperature).

Clown loaches are also regarded as a natural way of controlling an infestation of small snails in the aquarium. This being said, a person considering them for this purpose must also consider their future needs with regards to a large aquarium. A person getting clowns to removed snails in a smaller tank might be better served with one of the many other botia species that are as effective at the task but remain much smaller. Despite that utilitarian purpose, clown loaches are usually kept for reasons of appearance and personality.