| The Clown Loach is a popular fish in tropical | | | | Ich (White Spot Disease). |
| aquariums since it is very beautiful and not too | | | | Don't be afraid if you notice that your Clown |
| difficult to keep. Its scientific name is Botia | | | | Loach has squeezed itself behind a piece of |
| macracanthus and it is therefore also known as | | | | aquarium equipment, chances are that it is not at |
| Botia fish. When you buy a loach it will typically | | | | all stuck, it just likes to feel safe. The Clown |
| need at least a 100 liter / 20 gallon aquarium to | | | | Loach is also found of digging itself into tiny places. |
| do well. They are usually sold when quite young | | | | It is therefore important to use a substrate |
| and will therefore grow larger and larger as they | | | | without any sharp edges in the aquarium. In the |
| mature. A fully grown Clown Loach will need a | | | | substrate your can place a wide range of |
| 540 liter / 125 gallon aquarium or larger. | | | | different things for your Clown Loach to explore |
| Wild Clown Loaches inhabit densely grown waters | | | | and hide among. You do not have to limit your |
| in Indonesia and will therefore appreciate a planted | | | | self to plants and rocks; PVC pipes, flower pots, |
| aquarium or an aquarium with plenty of rocks and | | | | roots and ceramic and plastic aquarium ornaments |
| caves which the Clown Loach can hide among. A | | | | will also be highly appreciated. It is important that |
| combination of both plants and caves are ideal. | | | | the decorations have no sharp edges, since the |
| Adult Clown Loaches like to nibble on plants and | | | | Clown Loach will like to squeeze itself into the |
| you should therefore ideally choose tough and | | | | smallest places possible. If you place floating plants |
| fast growing plants like Java Fern and Anubias. | | | | in the water they will dim the light and make your |
| Juvenile Clown Loaches can usually be kept with all | | | | Clown Loach less shy and more active during the |
| types of plants as long as they appreciate the | | | | day. |
| same water conditions as the fish. | | | | Vigorous filtration is necessary since Clown |
| The Clown Loach loves to squeeze it self into | | | | Loaches are sensitive to poor water conditions. A |
| caves, rocky formations and other tiny places | | | | combination of mechanical, chemical and biological |
| that can barely fit it. To put it simple: the more | | | | filtration is recommended. Change 25 percent of |
| decorations the better. The aquarium must be | | | | the water at least once a week. Smaller and |
| decorated when you bring your Clown Loach | | | | more frequent water changes are even better. |
| home from the fish store, since it is most likely | | | | Even a slight disturbance in the water quality can |
| quite stressed from the long journey from | | | | harm you Clown Loach and in a community |
| Indonesia. A majority of the Clown Loaches | | | | aquarium the Clown Loach is usually the first fish |
| available in the aquarium trade is caught in the | | | | that falls ill or die when the water quality drops. |
| waters of Sumatra and Borneo. If you place your | | | | Since your will find the live Clown Loaches in |
| Clown Loach in a barren aquarium, it will not have | | | | streams and rivers, the aquarium should ideally |
| a chance to recuperate. It will instead become | | | | also have strong water circulation. The aquarium |
| more and more stressed. Stressed Clown | | | | must have a will fitted lid since Clown Loaches are |
| Loaches are very susceptible to a parasite called | | | | vigorous jumpers. |