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Clown loaches are playful, colourful and full of personality. They click when they eat, sleep on their sides and play in groups. They're also famous for eating pest snails. But they grow much bigger than most people expect, so it's important to plan for the adult fish.
Clown loaches at a glance
| Adult size | 15–20cm, sometimes more |
| Minimum tank (adults) | 300 litres, 150cm long |
| Group size | At least 5 |
| Temperature | 25–29°C |
| pH | 6.0–7.5 |
| Lifespan | 15–20+ years |
Plan for their adult size
Young clown loaches are sold at a few centimetres, but they grow steadily and live for decades. A group can start in a 200-litre tank, but adults need a tank of at least 300 litres and 150cm long. If that isn't possible, consider a smaller loach such as the dwarf chain loach or yoyo loach. Browse all loaches.
Keep them in a group
Clown loaches are very social. Kept alone or in pairs, they become shy and stressed. A group of five or more shows natural behaviour and much more confidence.
Setting up the tank
- Soft substrate: use sand or smooth gravel so they can dig without damaging their barbels. See substrates.
- Caves and hiding places: provide plenty of rocks, caves and driftwood. Loaches love squeezing into tight gaps.
- Strong filtration: they're messy, large fish. Use a powerful external filter and add flow.
- Warm water: a reliable heater set to around 26–28°C.
Feeding
Clown loaches feed mainly on the bottom. Offer sinking foods such as Hikari Sinking Carnivore Pellets and algae wafers, plus frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp. They also eat vegetables such as blanched courgette.
Do clown loaches eat snails?
Yes. They're one of the best natural controls for pest snails. But this also means they will eat ornamental snails and shrimp, so don't mix them. Read our snails guide.
Tankmates
Good companions include barbs, larger rasboras, danios, rainbowfish and peaceful larger catfish.
Health: watch for white spot
Clown loaches are very prone to white spot. They have tiny scales and are sensitive to many medicines, so use half doses of treatments where the label advises. Raising the temperature gradually helps. Always quarantine new fish.
Is my clown loach dead?
Clown loaches often rest on their sides or upside down. If it's breathing normally and springs to life when food arrives, it's just resting.
