Family: Cobitidae
Distribution: Chromobotia macracanthus, better known as the Clown Loach, is a tropical freshwater species that has its origins in the inland waters of Sumatra and Borneo.
PH: 5.0 – 8.0
Temperature: 25°C – 30°C (77 – 86F)
Hardness: 5 – 12 dH
Description: The Clown Loach is a big, bold species that can reach an impressive 22 cm in length. It has a bright, whitish-orange – often red-orange – colour, three black, vertical triangular bars that extend over its body, and bright to deep red colouration on its fins and tail. There is some regional colour variation: Borneo species have pelvic fins that are reddish orange and black, while those from Sumatra have red-orange pelvic fins. It’s name, Clown Loach, comes from its bright colouration and its playful, clownish personality.
Diet: Chromobotia macracanthus generally eat their food at the bottom of the tank, but may swoop up to claim the much-desired bloodworm snacks if housed in a community tank. You can offer the Clown Loach anything from commercial flake food and fish pellets to an array of live foods. It will appreciate worms, shrimp, plant matter and small snails.
Breeding: There is no information available on the successful breeding of Clown Loaches in an aquarium environment. This species has been spawned commercially – with the use of hormones – in the Czech Republic, but is very hard to breed in a tank.
Comments: Chromobotia macracanthus should be housed in a large tank – at least 30 gallons – and given plenty of areas in which to hide. You should create rock formations and caves – plastic tubes can make excellent hiding spots – as well as providing plants and roots. It is advised you also have a subdued lighting in your aquarium, and a fine, sandy substrate.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species: They should not be housed with aggressive fish – They will live happily with most Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, Corydoras Catfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami (such as the Blue Gouramiand Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also can live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danio and Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish make great tank mates.
Originally posted 2010-01-05 20:25:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
