Genus

Chromobotia

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Species: 1
Photographed: 1 of 1
Difficulty rated: 1 of 1

Where the name comes fromEdit

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

Subadult specimen of C. macracanthus - Bornean form.

Chromobotia macracanthusClown Loach

Bleeker, 1852

The clown loach, Chromobotia macracanthus, is a large botiid loach native to river systems of Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia. Widely sold, it is wholly unsuitable for smaller aquaria: a group needs a tank of at least 180 x 60 cm, and a properly kept fish can live for more than twenty years. Bornean and Sumatran populations differ slightly in pattern, and in the Batang Hari, Sumatra, drifting larvae are now collected and grown on for the trade.

Moderate