Aquariumloach · freshwater
Clown Loach: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Clown Loach (Chromobotia macracanthus) grows to about 19 in (40 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 72 inches long and about 170 gallons. Keep at least 5 together, at 75–86°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Outgrows most home tanks. Sold as a 2-inch snail solution; matures into a massive 12-16 inch schooling loach requiring a 6-foot 170+ gallon tank.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 19 in (40 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 72 inches long and about 170 gallons
- Temperature
- 75–86°F
- pH
- 5–7
- Hardness
- 1–12 dGH
- Group size
- 5+
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- peaceful
- Swims
- bottom of the tank
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- intermediate
- Lifespan
- 20 years
Watch for: eats shrimp · eats snails · eats live plants · jumps, so keep a lid
Clown Loach tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- Endler's LivebearerNeeds careClown Loach (1–12 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
- MollyNeeds careClown Loach (1–12 dGH) and Molly (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
- Common / Comet GoldfishOutgrows tanksClown Loach and Common / Comet Goldfish only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Electric Yellow LabNeeds careClown Loach (pH 5–7) and Electric Yellow Lab (pH 7.7–8.6) prefer different pH.
- Forktail Blue-eyeClown Loach (1–12 dGH) and Forktail Blue-eye (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
- Gold BarbClown Loach and Gold Barb only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Hillstream LoachNeeds careClown Loach and Hillstream Loach only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
- Rosy BarbClown Loach and Rosy Barb only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.
Avoid
- Cherry ShrimpClown Loach will eat Cherry Shrimp.
- Amano ShrimpClown Loach will eat Amano Shrimp.
- Nerite SnailClown Loach eats snails, including Nerite Snail.
- Mystery SnailClown Loach eats snails, including Mystery Snail.
- White Cloud Mountain MinnowNeeds careClown Loach (75–86°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures.
- Assassin SnailClown Loach eats snails, including Assassin Snail.
- Bamboo ShrimpClown Loach will eat Bamboo Shrimp.
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Loach is peaceful.
All 105 species we checked against the Clown Loach
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Angelfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Discus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Electric Blue Acara | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| German Blue Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Iridescent Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kissing Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Oscar | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pea Puffer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pictus Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rainbow Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Red-Tail Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Three-spot Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tinfoil Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Yoyo Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Caution | Clown Loach and Common / Comet Goldfish only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Caution | Clown Loach (pH 5–7) and Electric Yellow Lab (pH 7.7–8.6) prefer different pH. |
| Endler's Livebearer | Caution | Clown Loach (1–12 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Caution | Clown Loach (1–12 dGH) and Forktail Blue-eye (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Gold Barb | Caution | Clown Loach and Gold Barb only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Hillstream Loach | Caution | Clown Loach and Hillstream Loach only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Molly | Caution | Clown Loach (1–12 dGH) and Molly (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Rosy Barb | Caution | Clown Loach and Rosy Barb only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window. |
| Variatus Platy | Caution | Clown Loach (1–12 dGH) and Variatus Platy (14–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Amano Shrimp | Avoid | Clown Loach will eat Amano Shrimp. |
| Assassin Snail | Avoid | Clown Loach eats snails, including Assassin Snail.; Clown Loach (pH 5–7) and Assassin Snail (pH 7.5–8) prefer different pH. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Avoid | Clown Loach will eat Bamboo Shrimp. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Avoid | Clown Loach will eat Cherry Shrimp. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Loach is peaceful. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Loach is peaceful. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Avoid | Clown Loach and Crystal Red Shrimp only share 75–76°F. That's a tight window.; Clown Loach will eat Crystal Red Shrimp. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | Clown Loach (75–86°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Avoid | Clown Loach will eat Ghost Shrimp. |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Avoid | Clown Loach eats snails, including Japanese Trapdoor Snail. |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Avoid | Clown Loach eats snails, including Malaysian Trumpet Snail. |
| Mystery Snail | Avoid | Clown Loach eats snails, including Mystery Snail.; Clown Loach (pH 5–7) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH. |
| Nerite Snail | Avoid | Clown Loach eats snails, including Nerite Snail.; Clown Loach (pH 5–7) and Nerite Snail (pH 8–8.4) prefer different pH. |
| Paradise Fish | Avoid | Clown Loach (75–86°F) and Paradise Fish (50–72°F) need different temperatures. |
| Ramshorn Snail | Avoid | Clown Loach eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail. |
| Weather Loach | Avoid | Clown Loach (75–86°F) and Weather Loach (64–74°F) need different temperatures. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Avoid | Clown Loach (75–86°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures. |
Care notes
Needs: Delicate skin without scales makes them prone to Ich and medication sensitivity; demands warm pristine water and tight lid
Group: Complex shoaling social hierarchy; keeping fewer than 5 causes severe stress, reclusive hiding, or aberrant aggression
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, peaceful toward its own kind. Lives in the bottom of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Clown Loach get?
About 19 inches (40 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Clown Loach need?
At least 72 inches long and about 170 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 180 gallon.
How many Clown Loachs should be kept together?
At least 5. Complex shoaling social hierarchy; keeping fewer than 5 causes severe stress, reclusive hiding, or aberrant aggression
What fish can live with a Clown Loach?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Clown Loach setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 180 gallon (72 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 2 × 300 W for 180 gallons, holding 75–86°F.Find on Amazon →LidIt jumps. A full lid keeps it in the tank.Find on Amazon →FoodSinking food reaches the bottom before tankmates grab it.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
As an Amazon Associate, AquariumSetup earns from qualifying purchases. Links open Amazon search results so you can compare current options.
Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/chromobotia-macracanthus
- fishbase.se /summary/Chromobotia-macracanthus.html