Tropical Fish: Loach

Clown Loach

Botia macracantha

The clown loach is an active schooling fish that is best kept in small groups (three to six fish). It will tolerate tankmates of other species, although docile species may become agitated by the constant activity of this fish.

Clown loaches may alarm their owners by lying on their sides and backs while resting appearing to be dead. This is normal clown loach behavior. They also make audible clicking sounds in the evening. The clown loach has switchblade-like eye spines, but because it is not a territorial fish, these pose no threat to its tankmates. However, they may become entangled in nets, and may also cause injury to the aquarist's hand if he or she is not careful.

This species can live for as long as 20 years in the home aquarium. The clown loach inhabits flowing streams and their overflow basins in nature. Because they prefer plenty of room to swim, they do best in a large, dimly lit tank that has numerous places to hide and hardy live plants, such as Vallisneria and Cryptocoryne to swim through. (Artificial plants are also acceptable.) Provide a soft substrate as they like to nose through the substrate to find tidbits of food to munch on. They also like to perch high up on a piece of driftwood.

The clown loach will accept most commercially prepared flake, freeze-dried and frozen foods. Their diets should be supplemented with small live foods, such as Tubifex worms, bloodworms and brine shrimp.

To date, there have been only rare reports of spawnings in the home aquarium. Details are lacking. The clown loach is a "naked skinned" fish. That is, they either lack or have very tiny scales that are imbedded in the body. This can present a problem because it provides the fish with almost no protection from toxic materials dissolved in the aquarium water. Avoid adding medications to the aquarium unless they are specifically recommended for "scaleless" fishes.

By Al Castro. Source: aquarium fish magazine

Compatibility: Larger Livebearers, Barbs, Danios, Gouramis, Rainbowfish, Loaches, some Cichlids of similar size, Plecos, and Scavenger Catfish.

Loach Care:

Loaches and hillstream loaches generally require a clean well-oxygenated tank, although they are not overly demanding of pH or hardness levels.

Preferred conditions for most species are acidic to neutral or slightly alkaline pH and fairly soft water, although moderate hardness is tolerated after acclimatization. Regular partial water changes are required to keep nitrates low and good filtration is recommended.

It is recommended to use a fine grade or rounded gravel, as loaches in particular like to sift through the substrate for food.

Loaches appreciate caves, holes, and other places to hide. Because they come from streams, They require water currents in the aquarium.

Loach Related Articles:

Kuhli Loach. The real kuhli loach, Acanthophthalmus kuhlii, is a 3˝-inch fish from Indonesia, Sumatra, Java, Malaya and Thailand. It has 15 to 20 dark bars on its flanks that almost circle the body, but stop at the belly.

Breeding Kuhli Loach. The most disturbing aspect of my breeding adventures is that I have absolutely no idea what triggers the spawning activity. I know that it is possible to stimulate spawning with pituitary hormones, but I don't use them.

The Orange Finned Loach. Like many of the botias, the orange finned or also call red-tail botia has switchblade-like eye spines that can cause problems when trying to net them. It is better to capture them in some type of container instead.