Clown Loach

Playful, long-lived loaches sold small but destined for a very large tank — over a foot long and decades of life. Always kept in a group of five or more.

• Minimum footprint: 75 gallons; a 100+ gallon tank gives real swimming room.
• Preferred swimming zone: bottom of the water column.
• Social — keep a group of at least 5.
• Care level: moderate.

• Temperature: 75–86°F
• pH: 6–7.5
• Hardness: 2–12 dGH (Moderate)

Stable parameters matter more than perfect ones — aim for consistency before chasing an exact number.

peaceful

bottom-dwellerschoolingnocturnalgrows-largelong-lived

An omnivore — offer a staple flake or pellet plus regular frozen or live foods (daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp) and some vegetable matter for balance.

No outright-compatible species in our current database — check individual pairings with the compatibility tool.

A further 3 species pairs with Clown Loach as conditional — workable with the right tank and precautions.

• Serpae Tetra — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.

Standard tanks at or above the recommended 100 gallons:

• 100 gallon 60 × 18 × 21″
• 125 gallon 72 × 18 × 21″
• All tank sizes

• Start from a 75 gallon minimum and plan the full group size (5+) before you buy.
• Activity level is moderate, which affects how much of the tank it uses and how much it adds to the bioload.
• Zoning matters: this species lives mostly in the bottom zone, so choose tank mates that occupy other levels.

Compatibility depends on tank size, water chemistry, temperament, and adult size. Run a full check against any species in our database.

In-depth guides for Clown Loach:

• Clown Loach and AngelfishRisky

• FishBase(Scientific Database, accessed 2026-09-20)
• SeriouslyFish(Specialist Publication, accessed 2026-09-20)
• Practical Fishkeeping(Specialist Publication, accessed 2026-09-20)
• Aquarium Forge editorial guidelines(Editorial Interpretation, accessed 2026-09-22)

Data reviewed: September 2026 · Data version: 2026.11
Editorial note: Minimum tank recommendations may vary by source and husbandry approach. Our figures synthesise the sources above for planning purposes.