Individual Fish Description Page
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
E-MAIL
ME
and I will try to fill your request.
photo courtesy of sbs.
Botia macracantha
Classification
- Order: Scorpaeniformes
- Sub-order: Cottoidei
- Family: Cottidae
- Genera: Botia
Common name
Clown loach, Tiger Botia
Distribution
Borneo, Sumatra, Found in standing and running waters.
General Body Form
This fish is somewhat long and compressed laterally. The
underside is nearly straight and the back is convex. It has
a large head and the mouth is facing downward with four
pairs of barbels and thick fleshy lips. The barbels on the
lower jaw are small and hard to see. The Caudal Peduncle is
short and deep. The Clown Loach can reach a length of 12
inches ( 30 cm ), but is usually smaller in the home
aquarium.
Coloration
The fins are bright Red and three black vertical bands from
from the back to the belly over Orange-Red sides. The first
band runs from the top of the head and through the eye, the
second from the front of the Dorsal fin to the belly and
the third covers the start of the Caudal peduncle and
spreads on to the Anal fin. In healthy and happy specimens
the colors can easily equal that of the marine reef fish.
Maintenance
Clown loaches have no special requirements on water
conditions, they do however prefer a certain aquarium
set-up to be at their best. A tank size of 48 inches (120
cm ) with the length being more important than the depth.
It is very important to have a soft or fine textured
substrate as they are continually probing the upper layers
with their barbels for food. The tank does not need to be
heavily planted, but the fish are shy and must have a place
to hide - driftwood - caves - or even a clay flowerpot. The
lighting in the tank should not be overly bright. Clown
loaches are happiest living in small groups and will live
peacefully with all other fish. Sometimes they will form
small troops with members of the Corydoras family. Feeding
is not difficult as they will accept all prepared foods and
like all fish relish the addition of live foods especially
small worms. The addition of a plant suppliment is also
beneficial. Clown loaches once established can live a very
long time.
biotope
Rivers and lakes in Sumatra and Borneo, especially the
flood-plains in the hill country. Please see the Asian Black-water biotope
to get an idea how to set up a home for these great fish.
Breeding
Unknown. Have read some reports of sporadic breeding in the
home aquarium but have seen no details on it. In the wild
this fish probably migrates up river to special breeding
grounds.
For more information on this fish and members of its
family, please visit
Loaches on
line
back to the fish profile page.
Email:
badman2nd@hotmail.com