Edit Chromobotia macracanthus

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Name

Scientific name

Chromobotia macracanthus

Described by

Authority Bleeker, Year 1852

Family

Botiidae

Summary

The clown loach, Chromobotia macracanthus, is a large botiid loach native to river systems of Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia. Widely sold,…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

400mm, standard length

Tank size

Minimum length 180 cm, Minimum depth 60 cm

Water

Temperature and pH

Temperature 24–30°C, pH 5–7

Hardness

1–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries

Indonesia

Supporting text

Etymology

Chromobotia: from the Greek khroma, meaning 'colour', and the generic name Botia in reference to this species bright colour pattern.

Distribution

Native to the Greater Sunda Islands of Borneo and Sumatra. In the former it's restricted to river systems of Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan), Kalimantan Ten…

Habitat

Mostly inhabits main river channels but migrates upstream into smaller tributaries to spawn during the wet season, when some areas become temporarily flooded. …

Aquarium size

A tank with base measurements of 180 ∗ 60 cm72 ∗ 24 in or equivalent is the absolute minimum required to house a group, and young specimens should only be grow…

Maintenance

All botiids need a well-structured set-up although the actual choice of décor is more-or-less down to personal taste. A natural-style arrangement could include…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Appears to be chiefly carnivorous they will also eat vegetative matter if available, often including soft-leaved aquatic plants. The natural diet comprises aqu…

Behaviour and compatibility

Not especially aggressive but don't keep it with much smaller fishes as they may be intimidated by its size and sometimes very active behaviour. Slow-moving, l…

Not especially aggressive but don't keep it with much smaller fishes as they may be intimidated by its size and sometimes very active behaviour.

Slow-moving, long-finned species such as ornamental bettas, guppies and many cichlids should also be avoided as trailing fins can be nipped.

More suitable tankmates include peaceful, open water-dwelling cyprinids, while in larger tanks members of Barilius, Luciosoma, Balantiocheilos and Barbonymus become options.

In terms of other bottom-dwellers it will do well alongside most other bottids. Some cobitid and nemacheilid loaches are also possibilities as are members of Epalzeorhynchos, Crossocheilus and Garra and many catfishes.

As always, thorough research prior to selecting a community of fishes is the best way to avoid problems.

C. macracanthus is gregarious, forms complex social hierarchies and should be maintained in groups of at least 5 or 6 specimens, preferably 10 or more.

When kept singly it can become withdrawn or aggressive towards similarly-shaped fishes, and if only a pair or trio are purchased the dominant individual may stress the other(s) to the extent that they stop feeding.

That said it seemingly requires regular contact with conspecifics, a fact exemplied by a number of behavioural rituals which have been recorded consistently in aquaria (see ‘Notes’).

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the profileFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Sexual dimorphism

Adult females are normally fuller-bodies and larger than comparably-aged males. Some theories suggest that males also possess a more deeply forked caudal fin b…

Reproduction

In nature this species is a migratory spawner, moving from the main river channels into smaller tributaries with surrounding, temporarily inundated flood plain…

Notes

This species is arguably one of the most misunderstood in the hobby since it's wholly unsuitable for smaller aquaria despite its ubiquitous availability. Most …

References

9 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Tank size

Water

Temperature and pH

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries

Supporting text

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References