The Clown Loach 9/10cm is a stunning, medium‑sized clown loach for aquarists ready to commit to a large, active group of these iconic bottom‑dwellers. With their bright orange bodies, jet‑black bands and playful nature, clown loaches are a favourite worldwide for big community tanks.
At around Clown Loach 9/10cm, these fish are already showing strong colour and personality, but still have plenty of growing to do before they reach their impressive adult size.
Appearance & Personality of Clown Loach 9/10cm
The Clown Loach 9/10cm displays the classic clown loach look:
- Vibrant orange base colour with three bold black stripes
- Deep red or orange fins and nose as they mature
- Streamlined, arched body designed for life along the bottom
- Sand‑sifting behaviour similar to oversized Corydoras
Clown loaches are well known for their quirky habits – the Clown Loach 9/10cm may rest on its side or appear to “play dead”, especially when sleeping or feeling very relaxed, which often surprises new keepers.
Adult Size & Tank Requirements
While the Clown Loach 9/10cm is still growing, this species is a long‑term, large‑tank fish:
- Can reach around 20–25cm in the home aquarium (up to ~30cm in some cases)
- Must be kept in a group of at least 5 or more for proper social behaviour
- Requires a large aquarium – around 680L or more for a full group
To keep Clown Loach 9/10cm healthy and active:
- Use a soft sandy substrate so they can sift and rest comfortably
- Provide caves, tunnels, driftwood and hiding places for security
- Maintain a water temperature of approx. 24–30°C
- Aim for a pH around 6.5–7.5 with excellent, stable water quality
When conditions are right, a group of Clown Loach 9/10cm will be highly active, exploring all levels of the tank and showing off their social hierarchy and playful interactions.
Tank Mates for Clown Loach 9/10cm
The Clown Loach 9/10cm is generally peaceful and suits large community setups, but tank mate choice is important:
- Usually compatible: Peaceful community fish such as giant danios, angelfish, yoyo loaches, Corydoras, gourami and other medium‑sized community species.
- Sometimes compatible: Very small or slow‑moving fish like neon tetras or tiny rasboras can be outcompeted for food and may not be ideal long‑term.
- Rarely compatible: Super territorial cichlids (e.g. Dovii), large predatory catfish or any fish big enough to attempt to swallow a clown loach. Clown loaches have sharp cheek spines that can lodge in a predator’s mouth, often killing both fish.
Clown loaches are also excellent snail hunters – a Clown Loach 9/10cm will happily eat pest snails and can clear a tank of them over time.
Feeding Your Clown Loach 9/10cm
The Clown Loach 9/10cm is an enthusiastic feeder and accepts a wide variety of foods:
- Quality sinking pellets and wafers as a staple
- Sinking flakes and granules
- Frozen and live foods such as bloodworm and brine shrimp
- Occasional treats like insect‑based foods and vegetables
Because they are bottom‑dwellers and often more active in the evening, it can help to:
- Use a baster or feeding tube to deliver food directly to the bottom
- Offer a small dedicated feed after lights out so Clown Loach 9/10cm gets its share
A varied, sinking diet will keep your Clown Loach 9/10cm in top condition and bring out their best colours and behaviour.
