Clown Loach

Botia macracantha

Species:  Botia macracantha.
Origin:  Sumatra and Borneo.
Temp:  75-85°F (24-30°C)
pH Slightly acidic
dH Soft.
Temperament:  Peaceful active and sometimes weird acting fish, don't be surprised if they rest on their sides, it's normal.
Adult Size 10in   (25cm) usually smaller.
Feeding:  Eats everything, loves worms
Breeding:  Egg layer, rarely bred in captivity
 
Clown Loaches like company and will school if you have more than 2. Their goofy actions and their bright coloration gave them their name. Clown fish will eat snails and are capable of clearing a heavily infested tank in a few days. This most colourfully marked of the Botia genus is found in the still and sluggish waters of Indonesia, Sumatra and Borneo, where it is regarded both as an aquarium  fish and food fish. It has a stocky body, rounded back and a flat belly with an under positioned mouth.

The basic body colour is a splendid orange-yellow which is crossed with three dark, almost black, cone shaped bands. The first runs across the head and through the eye, the second lies between the gill cover and the dorsal fin, while the third crosses the body from the back of the dorsal fin to the caudal peduncle. The colour from this this third dark band continues into the dorsal and anal fins. The pectoral, ventral and caudal fins are usually bright red but are often tinged with a little black. In addition to its obvious beauty, it exhibits some strange habits which give it real character. For example, at feeding time it often swims on its back to take floating foods from the surface, it often makes quite audible 'clicking' sounds.

Also, they rest or sleep in the most unusual positions, and when viewed for the first time are quite disconcerting. They will rest while lying on their sides on the bottom of the aquarium, nose down in vegetation or on their tail under pieces of bogwood etc, all the time motionless and giving the impression they are half dead! Kept singly, they are very timid and should be kept in a small shoal to give a greater sense of security, they will often strike up with other shoaling bottom dwellers such as Corydoras catfishes.

Plenty of caves and shelters should be provided, while plants ought to be protected against the natural burrowing activities of larger Clown loach. Soft acid water is preferred, with a temperature range of 23-30C (73-86F).

Warning: some medications could prove harmful to these fish, please contact the shop if you have a problem or if you are unsure of which medications can, or cannot, be used.

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