Which freshwater fish is called the clown loach in the aquarium trade?

Chromobotia macracanthus is the freshwater fish called the clown loach in the aquarium trade.

The clown loach is a colorful cobitid fish native to the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo. It has a yellow-to-orange body crossed by three broad black bands, a pattern that explains its common name. The species is popular in community aquariums because it is active, social, and strikingly marked.

Clown loaches are social bottom-dwelling fish that often rest on their sides, a harmless behavior that can alarm new owners. They possess small spines beneath the eyes, which can lock into place and cause painful handling injuries.

The species was formerly placed in the genus Botia, but it is now classified in the separate genus Chromobotia. This taxonomic history explains why older aquarium books may list the name Botia macracanthus.