{"product_id":"clown-loach-chromobotia-macracanthus-freshwater","title":"Clown Loach (Chromobotia macracanthus)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"border-left:4px solid #475569;background:#eef1f4;padding:14px 16px;margin:0 0 22px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:700;color:#475569;\"\u003eRequest only, this one is not in our tanks right now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0;line-height:1.6;\"\u003eUse the \u003cstrong\u003eRequest This Fish\u003c\/strong\u003e button to tell us you want it and how many. Nothing is charged and nothing is held. We group requests together and add the popular ones to a regular store order, then email you the moment they land. If you would rather lock in a specific fish just for you, ask us about a special order instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003ch3 style=\"color:#1E88E5;margin:26px 0 10px;font-size:1.15em;\"\u003eAbout the Clown Loach\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;line-height:1.6;\"\u003eThe Clown Loach is one of the great personality fish of the freshwater hobby. Bright orange with three bold black bands and flicking red fins, it spends its day rooting through the substrate, wedging itself into caves and driftwood, and socializing with its own kind. They are famous for two odd habits: an audible clicking sound when they are excited, and a dead flat sprawl on their side while resting that alarms every new keeper who sees it. Both are completely normal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;line-height:1.6;\"\u003eThey are also a genuine long term commitment. Clown Loaches grow slowly but they do not stay small, and a well kept group can outlive a car. Buy them as a group of youngsters and plan the tank around the adults they will become.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3 style=\"color:#1E88E5;margin:26px 0 10px;font-size:1.15em;\"\u003eCare at a glance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:0 0 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background:#ffffff;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eChromobotia macracanthus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background:#f7fafd;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;\"\u003eSumatra and Borneo, Indonesia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background:#ffffff;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003eAdult Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;\"\u003e8 to 12 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background:#f7fafd;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;\"\u003e15 to 20 years, often longer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background:#ffffff;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003eMinimum Group\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;\"\u003e5, and 6 or more is better\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background:#f7fafd;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003eMinimum Tank\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;\"\u003e75 gallons for a long term group\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background:#ffffff;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003eTemperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;\"\u003e78 to 86 F\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background:#f7fafd;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003epH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;\"\u003e6.0 to 7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background:#ffffff;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003eHardness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;\"\u003e5 to 12 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background:#f7fafd;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;\"\u003eOmnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background:#ffffff;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;\"\u003ePeaceful and highly social\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background:#f7fafd;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;font-weight:600;width:38%;\"\u003eCare Level\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:9px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #e3e8ee;\"\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3 style=\"color:#1E88E5;margin:26px 0 10px;font-size:1.15em;\"\u003eBefore you request one\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 10px;line-height:1.6;padding-left:20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom:7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThey are a group fish, not a single.\u003c\/strong\u003e A lone Clown Loach hides, stops eating well, and fades. Five is the floor and six or more is where they relax and show their real behavior.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom:7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThey get big.\u003c\/strong\u003e Store sizes are usually 2 to 3 inches, but adults reach 8 to 12. A 75 gallon is the honest long term minimum for a group.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom:7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThey are sensitive to medication.\u003c\/strong\u003e Their scales are very fine, so copper and full strength ich treatments can hit them hard. Treat at half dose and raise the temperature instead where you can. Our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/medication\" style=\"color:#1E88E5;\"\u003etreatment range\u003c\/a\u003e has loach safe options.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom:7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThey want it warm and clean.\u003c\/strong\u003e The upper end of their range suits them, and they show stress in high nitrate faster than most tankmates. Worth keeping a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/water-testing\" style=\"color:#1E88E5;\"\u003etest kit\u003c\/a\u003e on hand.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom:7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThey eat snails.\u003c\/strong\u003e A useful trait if you have a pest snail problem, and something to plan around if you keep ornamental snails.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3 style=\"color:#1E88E5;margin:26px 0 10px;font-size:1.15em;\"\u003eTankmates and setup\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;line-height:1.6;\"\u003ePeaceful but boisterous, so pair them with fish that can handle a bit of bustle. Larger tetras, barbs, rainbowfish, gouramis and other bottom dwellers all work well. Try our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cherry-barb-puntius-titteya-freshwater\" style=\"color:#1E88E5;\"\u003eCherry Barb\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/panda-cory-corydoras-panda-freshwater\" style=\"color:#1E88E5;\"\u003ePanda Cory\u003c\/a\u003e for a mixed community, and browse the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/fish\" style=\"color:#1E88E5;\"\u003efish selection\u003c\/a\u003e for more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;line-height:1.6;\"\u003eGive them soft substrate, plenty of caves and driftwood to wedge into, and gentle to moderate flow. They will graze and dig, so choose sturdy or well rooted \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/freshwater-aquarium-plants\" style=\"color:#1E88E5;\"\u003eaquarium plants\u003c\/a\u003e such as Anubias and Java Fern attached to hardscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3 style=\"color:#1E88E5;margin:26px 0 10px;font-size:1.15em;\"\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;line-height:1.6;\"\u003eOmnivores with a real appetite. A quality sinking food is the staple, supplemented with frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp and the occasional blanched vegetable. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hikari-sinking-wafers\" style=\"color:#1E88E5;\"\u003eHikari Sinking Wafers\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hikari-algae-wafers\" style=\"color:#1E88E5;\"\u003eHikari Algae Wafers\u003c\/a\u003e are both good fits, and the rest of our range is in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/nutrition\" style=\"color:#1E88E5;\"\u003efish food\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3 style=\"color:#1E88E5;margin:26px 0 10px;font-size:1.15em;\"\u003eHow requesting works\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003col style=\"margin:0 0 10px;line-height:1.6;padding-left:20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom:7px;\"\u003eHit \u003cstrong\u003eRequest This Fish\u003c\/strong\u003e and tell us how many you are after.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom:7px;\"\u003eWe add your request to the tally. Nothing is charged and nothing is reserved for you.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom:7px;\"\u003eWhen there is enough interest we put it on a store order and email you the day it arrives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom:7px;\"\u003eEverything goes through our quarantine before it reaches the sales floor, so you get a fish that is settled and eating.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;line-height:1.6;\"\u003eBrowse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/fresh-water\" style=\"color:#1E88E5;\"\u003efreshwater range\u003c\/a\u003e while you wait.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Squeaky's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49154668167387,"sku":null,"price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/a94823bb-1f32-4f69-b72c-698f0006197f.png?v=1787052262","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/clown-loach-chromobotia-macracanthus-freshwater","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}