Clown Loach

COMMON NAME: Clown Loach

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Botia macracanthct.

DESIGNATION: Tropical.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Borneo, Indonesia, Sumatra.

SIZE: Up to 20 cm (8 in), usually smaller.

WATER PREFERENCES: Not critical, but soft, acid water is preferred, and raw water must be avoided. Temperature: 23-26°C (73.5-79°F).

DIET: Most foods, particularly bottom-dwelling live foods.

BREEDING: Aquarium spawnings have been achieved in the Far East but no details are available.

DESCRIPTION: This is a lively, shoaling fish which, unlike most members of the genus, is active during the day.

Clown Loach Information

• Young fish owners are recommended not to try out rearing the fish as the fish requires certain aquarium arrangements that may not be meet up by the first timers.
• The very basic requirement of the fish is that it should be kept in a large sized aquarium. The fish especially the females grow quite bulky at the time of the breeding season. If well kept the fish can grow up to the size of 16 inches.
• The aquarium must at least hold 75 gallons of water as the big sized fish lives in groups. There must at least be 4 clown loaches in number in an aquarium.
• The aquarium in which the fish should be kept must have efficient filtration system; power heads must also be fixed at the aquarium to produce currents in water. You must also devote time to clean the water tank on a regular basis. Change the water of the tanks in huge bulks as well.
• The lighting of the tank would be subdued to a great extent. The bottom of the tank would also be of sand substrate. The water quality must be soft and must be well planted along with caves and rocks as the fish has the habit of hiding amidst shades.
• The plants of the water tank should be hard enough to withstand the attacks of the fish. The fish has the habit of nibbling the leaves, or drilling holes in the leaves and uprooting the plants. You are recommended to choose species of plants that are hardy as well as capable of growing in dim lighting environments.
• The fish would be highly entertaining to watch when the plant is kept in a blue light environment. The fish has a nocturnal behavior and prefer to be out of their hiding places at the time of dawn or dusk.