Clown Loach

[fishfreaks]

*has been moved over*

Common name- Clown Loach
Scientific Name- Botia macracanthus
Native geographical area- Sumatra & Borneo Indonesia.
Native habitat- Flowing creeks and streams.
Maximum Size- 12 inches (30cm)
Minimum Aquarium Size- 75 Gallons although they need much bigger when they become full grown.
Natural & captive Diet- Omnivores. High protein foods, brine shrimp, blood worms, plants and vegetable matter, snails, sinking pellets and wafers, tubifex worms, beef heart.
Tank zone- Bottom
Temperament & compatibility- A schooling community fish that are very social. Should be kept in atleast a group of 3 and should NOT be kept alone.
Optimal hardness- Soft.
pH range- 6.5-7.5 but they can adapt
Optimal ph- 7.0
Temperature range- 75-85 *F (24-29*C)
Optimal temperature- 80*F (27*C)
Salinity range- None. This fish does not like salt.
Optimal salinity- None
Photoperiod- Living on the equator, where there isn't much seasonal difference in photoperiod or temperature, a steady 11 - 12 hours of daylight should be fine for them.
Seasonal changes critical? There is a rainy season so it has been thought that the rain triggers spawning in this species more than the sun.
Notable sensitivites- As a scaleless fish, it is sensitive to medications. You should always take precautions. Be sure to use formulas for scaless fish. Malachite green is deadly to them. They are also known to be susceptible to ich. Also be sure to keep the water clean.They are sensitive to poor water conditions.
Hardiness & Lifespan- Can live many years in the aquarium 15+
Physical description- Has an orange body color with verticle black stripes. The caudal, pectoral and ventral fins all have black markings. The mouth faces down and has four pairs or barbells. Females are smaller and more slender than males.





Activity peak- Crepuscular
Habits- The clown loach likes to dig and burrow in the substrate so a sandy bottom would be best. Do not be alarmed if you see them laying on their side. They do this when they are bored and when they are "sleeping." Be sure to have plenty of plants, a log or a clay pot as they sometimes like to hide.
Spawning notes- They spawn seasonally in outdoor ponds, but not in aquariums. Extremely rare reports of tank spawnings involved huge tanks and accidental spawnings that no one witnessed, so the methods are unknown outside of the malaysian fishfarms which keep this information top secret. Determining gender is also extraordinarily difficult; sometimes an X-ray machine might be in order.

Other notes- Reccomended for semi-experienced fish keepers. Can be a pricy fish wether they are big or small. When buying look for the most colorful and active fish. You can hear a low clicking noise they will sometimes make when they eat sinking wafers and when they are playing together. Have the tank fully covered as they may jump.

[fishfreaks]

How does this look so far? I'm not sure about the seasonal changes photoperiod and spawning details

[fishfreaks]

Originally Posted by fishfreaks

How does this look so far? I'm not sure about the seasonal changes photoperiod and spawning details

Anyone care to help??? Also do you think the "other notes" is too scrambled??

[Dez]

looks gd to me

[DavidDoyle]

I would note that other sources I have constuled list the pH rane as 6.5 - 7.5. Also they don't need a 6 ft tank until they get to a larger size than most people normally have them. Also, I think you negelected to mention that they like hiding places.

[TheOldSalt]

They spawn seasonally in outdoor ponds, but not in aquariums. Extremely rare reports of tank spawnings involved huge tanks and accidental spawnings that no one witnessed, so the methods are unknown outside of the malaysian fishfarms which keep this information top secret. Determining gender is also extraordinarily difficult; sometimes an X-ray machine might be in order.

Living on the equator, where there isn't much seasonal difference in photoperiod or temperature, a steady 11 - 12 hours of daylight should be fine for them. There is a rainy season, though, and my guess is that it's the rain that triggers spawning in this species more than the sun.

looks pretty good!

[fishfreaks]

DavidDoyle, I fixed the ph and tank size, but I had already mentioned that they like to hide.

[fishfreaks]

Oh and I added your info oldsalt, thanks for that Think its ready to submit now?

[fishfreaks]

*Has been moved over*

[MaryPa]

Now I may be wrong but I was always taught the female clown is much thicker and bigger than the male. Looks like I may have to rename all of mine. Going to visit my Loachie teacher and quiz him again.....................Dang I just know he`s told me right.