Clown Loach (Botia macracantha)



Fish Statistics
Minimum Tank Size:200 litres
Diet:Omnivore
Origin:Indonesia
Temp (C):22-27 C
Max Size:25cm
Family:Cobitidae
Temperament:Peaceful
pH:6.0 - 7.5
Care Level:Moderate

The Clown Loach is a scaleless fish and a bottom-dweller that originates from the streams in Indonesia.
The Clown Loach is a peaceful fish that enjoys the company of its own species as well as other small and peaceful tank mates. It will school with others of the same age and size. The Clown Loach appreciates caves, holes, and other places to hide, especially when it sleeps. Because it originates from streams, it would appreciate currents in the aquarium.

Botia macracantha enjoys eating small amounts of food several times a day. Younger Clown Loaches will eat most prepared foods while older ones may be more finicky. Prepared foods such as vegetable flakes or tablets along with meaty supplements such as live, frozen, or freeze-dried worms will provide this species with the proper nutrition.
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nice but 2 things. They grow upto 40cms and they have been renamed to chrombotia

My dear, in captivity these loaches NEVER reach 40 cm!

As for their scientific name Chromobotia macracanthus is the valid one.
Accepted synonims are: Botia macracantha, Cobitis macracanthus, Chromobotia macracanthus, etc.

Mary.

The LOACHES ONLINE WEBSITE gives a maximum of 30cms for captive fish and I imagine fish reaching that size are very few and far between.

Well, I dunno, Jim.

I take such information - even from such Websites - with a pintch of salt.
Since local conditions vary, so does fish development.

Well sorry to say but I have seen many clown loaches in to 30+cm size. If they have the correct size tank they can and will reach those sizes. IMO most are kept in way to small of tank way to long as to many people feel they grow so slow it will not hurt them..I personal disagree with this and feel it hurts the fish a lot. Most fish are dead before they hit the size they should as these fish can live 15+ years...due to how they are kept...

Pardon me, but I still doubt the size.
It is well known that some feed their fishes with steroids, so that is a reason of such size.
In captivity no loach reaches the size as in their natural habitat.

I have had loaches (3yrs or so) in a 5ft 90gal for ages, got em from little tackers, they would be 10cm at the largest. I picked up 3 more that had been kept in a 3ft tank since they were little tackers, 2 were the same size as mine, 1 of them though is about 16cm and huge round lol (the other 4 are still fairly sleek looking)

I've seen some large ones, most around the 30cm, rarely if ever have i seen larger.

we stipulate that there is some arguement as to how large they get in the tank.

Done