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Clown loach
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| Common name | Clown loach, Clown botia, Tiger botia |
| Scientific name | Chromobotia macracanthus |
| Synonyms | Botia macracanthus (old genus name) |
| Size | Up to 12" (30cm), but usually smaller in aquaria - about 6" (15cm). |
| Origin | Borneo, Sumatra, India |
| Tank setup | Large tank with plenty of hiding places |
| Compatibility | Peaceful community fish |
| Temperature | 24-30oC (75-86oF) |
| Water chemistry | Fairly soft, slightly acidic (pH 6-7) preferred, but will adapt to harder and more alkaline water. |
| Feeding | Omnivorous, but prefers meaty foods |
| Sexing | Unknown, females may be fuller bodied |
| Breeding | There have only been occasional spawnings reported in aquaria,
of which there are no detailed accounts. The Clown loach is now bred commercially on fish farms in large numbers. |
| Comments |
A very popular aquarium fish, both for its colour and its antics. One of its habits is to
lie on its side when resting - which may alarm those not familiar with it, as the fish may
appear to be ill! They may also make audible clicking sounds, particularly at feeding time.
They tend to be more active if kept as a small group, rather than singly or in pairs.
Provide plenty of refuges in the way of bogwood or hollow cylinders such as bamboo or pipes,
as the fish like to rest out of sight.
This fish is particularly prone to whitespot/ich when stressed in any way, so observe fish
carefully before buying and ideally quarantine for at least 2 weeks before introducing to
the main tank.
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