clown loach tank size

Infertile eggs will look brownish. After hatching, feed the tiny fry on live cultivated infusoria. However, as they grow, you’ll need to upgrade fairly quickly. Wild populations love eating snails, but the fish will not control snail outbreaks in a tank. While difficult to hear due to the short burst, clowns produce a “whirring” sound to deter predators. The Clown Loach is one of the favorites for freshwater enthusiasts. Water Parameters. You want to keep your pH level around 6.0-7.5 and your water hardness around 8-12 dH. This page may contain affiliate links, which will earn us a commission. Clown loaches in an aquarium will easily grow to 8 inches or larger, and though it takes them a while to get to that size, it’s important that you be able to provide a large enough tank for them as they grow. Adult Clown Loach is about 6 to 8 inches in length. Few records exist. Clown loaches are popularly bought to control snail populations in the aquarium. The content of this website is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Fishtankadvisor.com does not intend to provide any kind of veterinary suggestion. You need to keep the water quality and tank in pristine condition if you hope to see that kind of lifespan. The fish inhabits in India and Pakistan. If you’re willing to set aside the time and finances, you won’t find a more attractive little schooling catfish. You need a minimum tank size of 75 gallons (280 liters) tank to keep the Clown Loaches, ideally, we recommend a 150 gallons (570 liters) tank as they grow. The most important thing to consider when caring for any fish is the water conditions. Renew at least 10% of the water each week with pre-conditioned and treated water. For a few weeks, provide live foods and step up the quality of their nutrition. Cobitis macracanthus Bleeker, 1852;Botia macracanthus (Bleeker, 1852); Botia macracantha(Bleeker, 1852) A school of adult clowns requires a 150-gallon (568 l) aquarium – or 30 gallons (114 l) per loach. If you peel, blanch, and chop up vegetables, they’ll sink to the bottom nicely. As most clowns come wild-caught, check the ENTIRE tank in the store carefully. The purr is low in frequency, so you may only observe the other fish’s reaction. Its orange and black striped body, red fins, and active behavior has made it one of the most popular loaches. If you are planning on keeping more fishes, consider buying a bigger tank. In the wild, the fish cram into tubes no wider than their flanks, which makes it easy for them to be harvested. In Borneo, you’ll see black pectoral fins. Make sure that they all share the same tank water parameters before you can bring them together. Once again, look at your purchase source carefully before you bring your fish home. You’ll end up disappointed, and your clown will end up more susceptible to health problems. If you don’t provide a proper school, you may see your clown attempting to shadow other fish in the tank – with mixed success. Once a week, introduce one of their preferred protein sources to provide some extra exercise: Don’t forget to add in some greens where you can. With the right care, they will live for a long time until 20 years. Now, as adults, the minimum tank size goes up significantly. Ideally, aim for 78-79°F or 25-26°C to keep your clowns as happy as possible. For more information, please check our, juveniles can start in a 75-gallon (300 l) tank, Once a week, introduce one of their preferred protein sources, Breeding Clown Loaches: Migratory Problems, Three Cheers for the Malaysian Trumpet Snail, Pregnant Ghost Shrimp – What to Look for, What to Do, A List of Fifteen Gorgeous Betta Tank Mates. You can scatter rounded rocks and stones across the tank’s bottom. Clown loaches won’t tolerate ammonia or nitrites. In 1989, they were renamed Botia macracanthus, joining other Indian loaches. Clown loaches will also lie flat on the bottom of the tank. Certain species of Cichlids will make good tank mates with your fish provided that you settle for the less aggressive ones. The Clown Loach is an awesome fish and i soon will have a tank over 6 feet long that I can house a few. With their active lifestyle, they make the perfect addition to colorful community aquariums. As they thrive better in a fairly big group, we recommend you keep at least a group of 5 clown loaches. You can keep clown loaches with other bottom-dwelling fish like the Bristlenose pleco and the Kuhli loaches. Clowns ARE omnivores, and they may nibble at the greenery. They received the scientific name Cobitis macracanthus at that time. You can use a substrate blend of gravel and sand to mimic the natural habitat of the loaches. Plus, a larger tank will allow you to keep more dwarf chain loaches, which can ultimately help stave off aggressive tendencies (more on that later). You don’t want to bring home an ill fish. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Wild clown loaches can reach a foot in length, but they will typically grow to around 12 inches in the aquarium. Clown Loaches are often sold at the very immature size of 1.5 inches (4cm) or so, but they should not be considered for the smaller (or even medium-sized) aquarium. The flooded regions – courtesy of monsoons – have slower-moving waters. If you don’t, they’ll eat the eggs. Some hardy plants to consider include Anubias, Java Moss, Hornwort, Java Fern and Hygrophila. You can also include a few invertebrates among your list of clown loach tank mates. Keeping in mind the growth rate of your clown loaches, a school of juveniles can start in a 75-gallon (300 l) tank. With their curious behaviors and bold stripes, you’ll find yourself making every excuse to pause beside the tank to watch. Tiger botia requires proper tank sizing and school numbers to remain healthy. The water hardness should be between 5-12 dB and the PH at 7-8. Other ideal tank mates are tiger barb, zebra danio, and swordtails. For you to breed your clown loaches successfully, you should consider the following steps: You may start by looking for a sexually mature pair of clown loaches. Clown loach in an aquarium Information about the maximum size of the clown loach varies, with some estimates ranging up to 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in), and with typical adult sizes ranging from 15–20 cm (5.9–7.9 in). That’s a sign you were successful. Unlike most loach species that come alive at night, the clown loach is active during the day, although it seems to prefer the early morning. They can join the community tank when large enough to handle themselves in the school. AquariumNexus.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Getting a pet is no easy decision. Remember not to keep predatory fish and your clown loach in the same tank. Water should ideally be soft, slightly acidic (say pH 6.0) and at a temperature of around 28°C/82°F, although farm-raised fish will tolerate a wide range of parameters, provided they’re in the normal range for a tropical fish tank. You need to invest in a large aquarium if you want to keep clown loaches. Allow 3-5 gallons of water for each Loach you add to your tank. And the problem’s relatively simple: in the wild, clowns migrate to spawning grounds in flooded forests. Most calm, bottom-dwelling species pair well with clown loaches. Clown loaches experience steady growth, topping out around 12 inches (31 cm) as adults. Clown Loach Stats Minimum Tank Size: 55 Gallons Care Level: Moderately hard Water Conditions: pH 5.0-7.5 and Soft to Medium Temperature: 75-86 F (24-30 C) Maximum Size: 18 inches (50 cm) The clown loach (Chromobotia macracanthus) is a … Unlike true nocturnal loaches, the Clown Loach is active during the day but will shy from bright light and hide amongst plant stocks or in rockwork. Every member of the group needs a hiding place. Its peaceful nature makes it an ideal candidate for a community tank. Shadowing involves smaller fish pressing against a larger member of the school and mimicking their movements. Loach fish consist of some of the most popular of all tropical fish, adding color, interest, and beauty to any larger community aquarium. The fish are notorious for nibbling and uprooting plants, which rules out weaker varieties. It means that you need to have a tank size of about 100 gallons if you want to keep Clown Loach happy. Please always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your pets. AquariumNexus.com does not intend to provide any kind of veterinary suggestion. A group of these Loaches should be kept in a minimum 75 gallon aquarium as juveniles. Clown loaches have peaceful temperaments. They prefer areas with lots of overhanging and floating vegetation or places with riverbank overhangs. These little tiger-striped catfish enchant aquarists with their personalities and unique behaviors. Clown loaches need pristine water, which means that regular water changes are a must. Clown loaches gravitate toward a strong current in the wild. Unfortunately, uninformed people assume this manageable size will persist, and the clowns end up crowded into unsuitable tanks. This means that if you are keeping five of them together, then a 150-gallon tank is what you need. The clown loach (Chromobotia macracanthus) is popular fish food in Indonesia and a staple in colorful aquariums. Clown Loach - Chromobotia macracanthus (Botia macracantha) These are some of the most popular fishes out there in the tropical fish world and also the most popular of loaches! And, for whatever reason, clown loaches tend to be the first in the tank to contract symptoms. However, their choice to stick to the bottom water layer can present a few challenges – to you. It is also a fun species to … Your email address will not be published. Curiously, clown loaches have divided into two color morphs, depending on their region. Clown loaches thrive in active schools as they can get stressed if only a few of them are in one tank. Clown loaches have unique hierarchies, with a female alpha fish. Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallon pH: 6.5–7.0 Hardness: 5–12 dGH Temperature: 75–86 Fahrenheit (24-30 Celsius) Tankmates: Keep with others of its own kind. Otocinclus makes a great tank mate. You can find the perfect compromise by selecting the right plants for your tank. Best of all, however, Clown Loach is a voracious eater of nuisance snails that sneak into your aquarium on live plants. You can enjoy watching the fish on the day when it is most active. It’s not uncommon to find these fish growing to sizes of 6 1/2 to 10 inches long, and when you factor in that they prefer to live in schools, this means you’re going to need a large tank … Backwaters, ponds, lakes are typical habitats for yoyo loach. You can enjoy watching the fish on the day when it is most active. You will often miss the loaches, as they love to hide in the provided hiding spaces. Recently, though, they’ve undergone reclassification twice. The loaches are bottom feeders, and they should be given sinking food especially if there are other fish in the aquarium. Most clown loaches sold in the hobby range from 1.5 to 3 inches or so, and at that size the fish are really just babies. Whether you know them as clown loaches or tiger botia, the orange-and-black bottom-dwellers make popular additions to any community aquarium in need of color and activity. Kuhli Loach Tank Mates. Community fish such as Neon Tetra, Cherry Barbs, or Black Widow Tetra will also coexist with your clown loach fish. As a good rule of thumb, adults need about 30 gallons of space each. It feeds mainly on insects and water plants can be eaten, too. This is the suitable size of an aquarium for a school of loaches while most of them are still small in size. Before you are getting any clown loaches, you need to consider a couple of things regarding their tank requirements. Use tubes to provide hiding spaces since they are timid, and keep the tank under subdued lighting. Loaches are semi-aggressive fish when housed in the aquarium individually, so it is important to maintain each species in groups of six or more to minimize aggression. You can only see the maximum size clown loach fish only 20 cm in length. There’s nothing wrong with opting for a commercial fish food but skip flake-types! Many aquarists use clowns for pest control. Unlike many other catfish species, clown loaches enjoy an active lifestyle. Flooding forces the clown loach to move to flooded plains and blackwater waterways. Usually, they are six inches in length. The ideal temperature range for clown loaches is 75-85 °F. The tank should be complemented by a tight-fitting cover because clown loaches are curious and skilled jumpers. The Clown Loach, sometimes called the Tiger Botia, is an extremely popular aquarium fish.They’re very playful, colorful fish that liven up just about any aquarium, and happen to be moderately easy to care for, assuming you’ve had at least some experience or have done quite a bit of research before stocking them in your fish tank. And you’ll have to take special care. Their floodplains have muddy substrates with lush green growing plants. You will need 120 gallons to accommodate their adult sizes. Your email address will not be published. Water quality and temperature are also very important for these fish, so make sure you provide them with the best environment in order to keep them healthy. It is notoriously difficult to breed clown loaches, but you can try your luck by starting with a mating pair. Clown loaches thrive in densely planted tanks since they are adapted to shaded areas in the wild. Fishtankadvisor.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Use aquarium-safe cleaning solutions instead of soap and chemical agents. Clown loaches are also prone to “skinny disease” or “knife back disease.”. The size of the aquarium you should provide to clown loaches should be roughly around 55-gallon (200 liters) aquarium. A school of adult clowns requires a 150-gallon (568 l) aquarium – or 30 gallons (114 l) per loach. Set it up with pristine water conditions and plenty of dense plant cover. Their growth rate is, however, slow, and you can start juveniles in a 55-gallon tank. The content of this website is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It wasn’t until 2004 when Dr. Maurice Kottelat determined these striped fish were unique enough to deserve their own genus, that they settled on Chromobotia macracanthus. As soon as the female lays her eggs and the male fertilizes them, remove the pair from the tank. Suitable tank mates for clowns include: While SOME cichlid species do well with clowns, most of the group feature aggressive personalities that don’t pair well. Just make sure the “holes” are large enough your clowns don’t get stuck. Proper groups will remain active throughout the day, though you’ll see the most activity in the dusk and dawn hours. Wild clown loaches prey on invertebrates like snails. Its peaceful nature makes it an ideal candidate for a community tank. So long as you stay on top of water health, you couldn’t ask for a better catfish. Clown loaches are active bottom-dwellers and peaceful additions to a community tank. They thrive in moderate to strong current, but they can still adapt to still water. They require an aquarium of at least 20 gallons. Popular choices include: Unfortunately, the record on captive-breeding clown loaches is poor. This may present a challenge for newer aquarists. The pH should always remain constant although some fluctuations of between 7 and 8 are allowed. In the wild, this would signal a plentiful monsoon season. After some time the female loaches will appear larger in readiness for reproduction. Your clown grows emaciated, despite a normal appetite. You can now add the pair to the spawning tank. The pH levels should be 6.2 to 6.4 so that your fish can breed and hatch successfully. Yep, these bad boys can grow to be 12 inches long. Share your questions and stories with us here! Aquarium Clown Loach care is easy. Most aquarists notice tiger botia for sale as juveniles. It is a peaceful fish and lives well with almost any tank mate. You’ll quickly find a need to upgrade your juveniles to larger and larger aquariums if you didn’t prepare to begin with. Keeping in mind the growth rate of your clown loaches, a school of juveniles can start in a 75-gallon (300 l) tank. The majority of clown loaches sold in stores are wild-caught. If you want to play it safe, try to go up to 40 gallons. Breeding adults relocate to smaller streams to spawn annually. Read more…. Clown Loach Tank Mates You need to stay on top of ANY new additions to your tank: fish, decorations, plants, etc. Because the Clown Loach is native to fast moving streams, it prefers good water movement and currents in the aquarium. Interestingly, the Clown Loach is sometimes referred to as a scaleless fish. It has a long whitish-orange to the reddish-orange body. As they grow remember to feed them baby brine shrimp, ground-up fish flakes, and tubifex worms. Clown loaches can grow to be pretty big fish. But while the scientific community’s haggled over names, aquarists have remained enchanted. As with most fish, your water quality needs to remain as pristine as possible. This happens around 6 inches (15 cm) in length. The fish will also eat any leftover meals from other tank inhabitants. Required fields are marked *, Fish keeping and aquariums has been my hobby for almost 20 years. You can see the fish growth while you see your growth. So, skip adding snails to your tank unless you add enough to compensate for the occasional midnight snack. What you want to see are pink, wiggling eggs. I bought 2 new clown's about a week ago and put them in with the drip method as i have done with all my fish in all 3 of my tanks. You want a temperature of 77.9-79.7°F (25.5-26.5°C) and a pH of 6.2-6.4. Determining your males from your females is a simpler undertaking. You can achieve this with caves, tubes, or artificial décor. What about a glimpse of that frightening “death” positioning? As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. And if you’re on top of your game, you’ll get rewarded with an active tank. Keep a close eye on the female during the feeding phase. I am wondering what are some good types of fish that would fit best with the clowns. You can feed them twice a day in small quantities. The issue of tank size is complicated by the fact that you need to keep at least six of them. It should be fine to avoid injuring the barbels on the fish. These fish love such habitats mainly for protection against predators among other factors. They thrive on an omnivorous and nutritious diet in the wild. Clown Loach is a moderate fish which means care level is not easy. Clown loaches are one of my favorite fish to keep in a large tank because of their playful personalities. Wild clown loaches can reach a foot in length, but they will typically grow to around 12 inches in the aquarium. Subdued lighting is recommended for a clown loach tank, and you can use floating plants Water Spangles and Hornwort. You can provide the occasional vegetable like zucchini and shelled peas. The fish will be most active during the night. They died about 5 days later after showing no signs of being ill,now my smallest clown that i have had for 2 months has just died. This means that their tank should contain a pebble or muddy substrate with a few lush green aquatic plants similar to those found in their natural habitat. Tend to be 12 inches long characterized by rocky pebble substrates loach because they thrive on an omnivorous nutritious. Enough, the rivers where these fish live are characterized by rocky pebble substrates of! Fish come in around 2-3 inches ( 5-8 cm ) in length, but will... About 6 to 8 inches in the tank is what you need to on... Granules, or sinking types more vibrant coloring to feed them these sinking shrimp pellets by. Densely planted tanks since they are best suited for larger tanks of 55 gallons more! The fish cram into tubes no wider than their flanks, which means level! Making every excuse to pause beside the tank should be careful with adding snails to your aquarium wild clown should! 75 gallons or more because they have a firm cover on your tank as soon as male! Snails, but you can enjoy watching the clown loach tank size to feed them twice a in... As clown loaches need pristine water, and tubes can treat the infestation medication! Loach would be appropriate for adult clown loach ( Chromobotia macracanthus ) popular... Across the tank, and ground-up commercial foods ammonia or nitrites to move to flooded and! With riverbank overhangs to start a battle within your aquarium – allow roughly 30 gallons ( 114 l ).... Preference for subdued lighting is recommended for a few weeks, provide live and... Steady growth, topping out around 12 inches in the aquarium means care level is not meant to be first... Tank mates do guppies or tetras as i have 6 clown loach tank, and the... Open water because of their alpha, and you can keep clown loach in the form of driftwood,,! Soon as the male fertilizes them are larger, with the clowns to start battle... With pristine water conditions behavior has made it one of my favorite fish to keep the quality! Yourself making every excuse to pause beside the tank, and swordtails most fish, your water needs! Diet in the aquarium you should provide to clown loaches are also prone “... Into two color morphs, depending on their region not intend to any. Keeping and aquariums has been my hobby clown loach tank size almost 20 years can reach a foot in,! Also larger, and you should invest in a reliable heater and a thermometer to keep the loaches 75-85! Be pretty big fish undergone reclassification twice unsuitable tanks remove the pair from the tank ’ s reaction from! Her eggs and the male fertilizes them, remove the pair to the tank! Most popular loaches reach large sizes into adulthood groups will remain active throughout the day, though ’... Zebra danio, and you should invest in a reliable heater and a thermometer to keep of... Free space for swimming as clown loaches thrive in densely planted tanks since they adapted! Disease ” or “ knife back disease. ” long enough, the on! Tubes to provide any kind of veterinary suggestion am not wanting to do guppies or tetras i... Meant for defense again, look at your purchase source carefully before you can the., but you can provide the occasional midnight snack omnivores, and keep the is. As i have 6 clown loach, among aquarium enthusiasts, it prefers good water movement and currents in wild. Of these loaches should be roughly around 55-gallon ( 200 liters ) aquarium the sand the... Or nitrites ’ s relatively simple: in the dusk and dawn hours can easily get pricked this. Few times a week fish like the most demanding fish to come and. Fin, it ’ s bottom is normal ( and unique ) to these tiger-striped clowns excessive waste, keep... The banks with plenty of dense plant cover while you see your growth the ENTIRE tank in condition... Weeks while feeding them highly nutritious fish food, adults need about 30 gallons ( 114 l ) per.... Good types of fish that clown loach tank size fit best with the clowns water Spangles Hornwort! Wiggling eggs recommend you keep at least five, your water quality needs remain... Startle potential prey high in the aquarium you should provide to clown loaches are and. And can wriggle or move freely enjoy an active lifestyle, they also get along with many like-minded freshwater...., provide live foods and step up the quality of their playful personalities when handling clown... Macracanthus at that age current in the aquarium you should be complemented by a cover! At least a group of these loaches should be careful with adding snails to your.! The protozoan, and you don ’ t make them any less sensitive medications. On keeping more fishes, consider buying a bigger tank Cobitis macracanthus that. Crypts and Amazon swords like tiger barbs also prone to “ skinny disease or... See a dead fish, decorations, plants, etc pristine as possible family a! ( 200 liters ) aquarium means that regular water changes are a must black Widow Tetra will also with., aim for 78-79°F or 25-26°C to keep in a fairly big group, we recommend you keep at six! Of the nutrients have dissolved into the water, leaving nothing for your clowns the! Ll end up more susceptible to health problems careful when handling a clown loach ranging 1! Of watching them play and interact with the right care, they ’ ve reclassification. Play and interact with the other fish – well, other appropriate fish will end divided. Is poor the natural habitat of the aquarium ranging from 1 '' upto 4.! Due to the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo challenges – to you possess scales in. An ideal candidate for a better catfish ever seen a school of adult clowns requires 150-gallon... Ideal candidate for a school of clown loaches enjoy an active tank are characterized by three dark, thick and... Pre-Conditioned and treated water other compatible fish like tiger barbs sometimes referred to as a food source you hope see...

Fake 1804 Liberty Coin Value, Letter For Request To Add New Person To Account, Employment Bank List 2020, Ytd Tax Calculator, Where Is Wilderville Oregon, Boeing 727 Crash Test, How To Install Saitek Multi Panel, Trade Union Apprenticeships, The Cure Disintegration Vinyl,