Clown loach Tank Mates

Short answer: the best clown loach tank mates are Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly. Clown loaches need 75–86 °F (24–30 °C), pH 5–7 and at least 180 gallons. Keep them in a group of 5 or more.

Chromobotia macracanthus · rated against 71 species · check your own combination

Clown loach care at a glance

Adult size	15.7 in (40 cm)
Minimum tank	180 US gallons
Temperature	75–86 °F (24–30 °C)
pH	5–7
Temperament	Peaceful
Swims in	Bottom
Group size	Groups of 5+
Care level	Moderate

Sources: Seriously Fish · FishBase. Last reviewed 2026-11-04.

Only show tank mates that fit my gallon tank

✅ Compatible tank mates (46)

Betta fish (min 10 gal)
Dwarf gourami (min 10 gal)
Guppy (min 10 gal)
Bristlenose pleco (min 20 gal)
Harlequin rasbora (min 20 gal)
Molly (min 20 gal)
Platy (min 20 gal)
Tiger barb (min 30 gal)
Angelfish (min 55 gal)
Celestial pearl danio (min 10 gal)
Chili rasbora (min 10 gal)
Ember tetra (min 10 gal)
Endler's livebearer (min 10 gal)
Otocinclus (min 10 gal)
Black skirt tetra (min 20 gal)
Bronze cory (min 20 gal)
Cardinal tetra (min 20 gal)
Cherry barb (min 20 gal)
German blue ram (min 20 gal)
Glowlight tetra (min 20 gal)
Honey gourami (min 20 gal)
Kuhli loach (min 20 gal)
Rummy nose tetra (min 20 gal)
Serpae tetra (min 20 gal)
Pearl gourami (min 30 gal)
Swordtail (min 30 gal)
Three spot gourami (min 35 gal)
Discus (min 75 gal)
Siamese algae eater (min 75 gal)
Common pleco (min 125 gal)
Pygmy cory (min 10 gal)
Sparkling gourami (min 10 gal)
Black neon tetra (min 20 gal)
Bloodfin tetra (min 20 gal)
Dwarf neon rainbowfish (min 20 gal)
Forktail blue-eye (min 20 gal)
Glass catfish (min 20 gal)
Lemon tetra (min 20 gal)
Sterbai cory (min 20 gal)
X-ray tetra (min 20 gal)
Buenos Aires tetra (min 30 gal)
Congo tetra (min 30 gal)
Upside-down catfish (min 30 gal)
Boesemani rainbowfish (min 55 gal)
Bolivian ram (min 55 gal)
Bala shark (min 250 gal)

⚠️ Possible with caution (10)

Neon tetra (min 20 gal) — Very narrow shared temperature range: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Neon tetra 21–25 °C (70–77 °F).
Panda cory (min 10 gal) — Very narrow shared temperature range: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
Zebra danio (min 20 gal) — Very narrow shared temperature range: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Zebra danio 18–25 °C (64–77 °F).
Kribensis (min 30 gal) — Kribensis defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase clown loach.
Rainbow shark (min 75 gal) — Rainbow shark defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase clown loach.
Red tail shark (min 75 gal) — Red tail shark defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase clown loach.
Cockatoo dwarf cichlid (min 20 gal) — Cockatoo dwarf cichlid defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase clown loach.
Odessa barb (min 30 gal) — Very narrow shared temperature range: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
Firemouth cichlid (min 40 gal) — Firemouth cichlid defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase clown loach.
Chinese algae eater (min 75 gal) — Chinese algae eater defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase clown loach.

❌ Not recommended (15)

Cherry shrimp (min 5 gal) — Clown loach will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
Fancy goldfish (min 20 gal) — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F).
Oscar (min 180 gal) — Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful clown loach.
Nerite snail (min 5 gal) — Clown loach eats snails.
Pea puffer (min 5 gal) — Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully peaceful clown loach.
Amano shrimp (min 10 gal) — Clown loach will hunt and eat Amano shrimp.
Mystery snail (min 10 gal) — Clown loach eats snails.
White cloud mountain minnow (min 20 gal) — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
Electric yellow cichlid (min 55 gal) — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for clown loach.
Paradise fish (min 20 gal) — No comfortable shared temperature: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F).
Peppered cory (min 20 gal) — No comfortable shared temperature: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
Convict cichlid (min 30 gal) — Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful clown loach.
Gold barb (min 30 gal) — No comfortable shared temperature: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Gold barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
Rosy barb (min 30 gal) — No comfortable shared temperature: Clown loach 24–30 °C (75–86 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
Jack Dempsey (min 75 gal) — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful clown loach.

How many clown loaches per tank?

Larger than the tank sizes we cover. — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.

FAQ

What fish can live with clown loaches?

Good matches include Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Harlequin rasbora, Molly. They share a temperature range with clown loaches (75–86 °F (24–30 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.

What fish should not live with clown loaches?

Avoid Cherry shrimp, Fancy goldfish, Oscar, Nerite snail, Pea puffer, Amano shrimp.

What size tank do clown loaches need?

We recommend at least 180 US gallons for a group of 5 clown loaches, more if you add tank mates.

Can clown loaches live alone?

No. Clown loaches are social and should be kept in groups of at least 5.

Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.