Clown loaches in aquariums

The Clown Loach is a popular fish in tropical aquariums since it
is very beautiful and not too difficult to keep. Its scientific
name is Botia macracanthus and it is therefore also known as
Botia fish. When you buy a loach it will typically need at least
a 100 liter / 20 gallon aquarium to do well. They are usually
sold when quite young and will therefore grow larger and larger
as they mature. A fully grown Clown Loach will need a 540 liter
/ 125 gallon aquarium or larger.

Wild Clown Loaches inhabit densely grown waters in Indonesia and
will therefore appreciate a planted aquarium or an aquarium with
plenty of rocks and caves which the Clown Loach can hide among.
A combination of both plants and caves are ideal. Adult Clown
Loaches like to nibble on plants and you should therefore
ideally choose tough and fast growing plants like Java Fern and
Anubias. Juvenile Clown Loaches can usually be kept with all
types of plants as long as they appreciate the same water
conditions as the fish. The Clown Loach loves to squeeze it self
into caves, rocky formations and other tiny places that can
barely fit it. To put it simple: the more decorations the
better. The aquarium must be decorated when you bring your Clown
Loach home from the fish store, since it is most likely quite
stressed from the long journey from Indonesia. A majority of the
Clown Loaches available in the aquarium trade is caught in the
waters of Sumatra and Borneo. If you place your Clown Loach in a
barren aquarium, it will not have a chance to recuperate. It
will instead become more and more stressed. Stressed Clown
Loaches are very susceptible to a parasite called Ich (White
Spot Disease).

Don’t be afraid if you notice that your Clown Loach has squeezed
itself behind a piece of aquarium equipment, chances are that it
is not at all stuck, it just likes to feel safe. The Clown Loach
is also found of digging itself into tiny places. It is
therefore important to use a substrate without any sharp edges
in the aquarium. In the substrate your can place a wide range of
different things for your Clown Loach to explore and hide among.
You do not have to limit your self to plants and rocks; PVC
pipes, flower pots, roots and ceramic and plastic aquarium
ornaments will also be highly appreciated. It is important that
the decorations have no sharp edges, since the Clown Loach will
like to squeeze itself into the smallest places possible. If you
place floating plants in the water they will dim the light and
make your Clown Loach less shy and more active during the day.

Vigorous filtration is necessary since Clown Loaches are
sensitive to poor water conditions. A combination of mechanical,
chemical and biological filtration is recommended. Change 25
percent of the water at least once a week. Smaller and more
frequent water changes are even better. Even a slight
disturbance in the water quality can harm you Clown Loach and in
a community aquarium the Clown Loach is usually the first fish
that falls ill or die when the water quality drops. Since your
will find the live Clown Loaches in streams and rivers, the
aquarium should ideally also have strong water circulation. The
aquarium must have a will fitted lid since Clown Loaches are
vigorous jumpers.