Species Profile
Clown Loach
Chromobotia macracanthus
Loachespeaceful
Adult size
8″
Minimum tank
75 gal
Temperature
75–86°F
pH
6–7.5
Schooling
Group of 5+
Water level
bottom
Diet
Sinking pellets, frozen, snails
Notes
Iconic orange-and-black banded loach that eats pest snails and lives for decades. Sold tiny but reaches 8″ over years and lives in groups of 5+; plan for a 125gal long tank long-term, not the 20gal they fit in at purchase.
Compatible Tankmates
Best tank mates for Clown Loach
Every species below passes the compatibility engine when paired with Clown Loachin a suitably sized tank. Verdicts come from the same rules the builder uses — click a card to see that species' own care profile and its tank mates in turn.
Cardinal Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Rummynose Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Harlequin Rasbora
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Fancy Guppy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Platy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Molly
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Swordtail
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Male Betta
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Dwarf Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Honey Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Pearl Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
German Blue Ram
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Photo: Vlad Butsky from San Jose, CA, USA / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-2.0