Clown loach

The clown loach is a large, social loach from the rivers and floodplains of Sumatra and Borneo, where it lives in large groups among submerged roots and leaf litter. It reaches about 30 cm in the aquarium — larger in the wild — and can live more than twenty years, making it a long-term commitment. The bright orange body with three broad black bars and vivid red fins makes it one of the most recognisable loaches in the hobby. A group of at least five is mandatory; solitary specimens become withdrawn and may turn aggressive. The tank should hold at least 250 litres with soft sand, smooth driftwood, and well-oxygenated water with moderate flow. Temperature between 24°C and 30°C with a pH of 5.0 to 7.0 covers their needs, reflecting the soft, slightly acidic waters of their native rainforest habitat. As a carnivore the clown loach needs a protein-rich diet of sinking pellets, bloodworms, brine shrimp, and chopped earthworms. They are known for a quirky social behaviour called 'greying out', where a subordinate fish briefly fades in colour to signal submission. Tankmates should be robust but peaceful — small or long-finned fish may be nipped. Breeding in aquariums has not been reliably achieved, so most specimens are wild-caught or commercially raised using hormones. Weekly water changes of 30 to 50 percent are essential for their long-term health.