As an experienced aquarist who’s kept both clown loaches and various shrimp species, I can tell you upfront – yes, clown loaches will definitely eat shrimp. But don’t click away just yet! There are some creative ways to potentially keep them together if you’re determined to try. Let me break down everything you need to know about keeping these species together.
The Quick Answer
Clown loaches are natural predators that will actively hunt and eat most types of aquarium shrimp, including:
- Cherry shrimp
- Ghost shrimp
- Amano shrimp
- Any baby shrimp
Why Clown Loaches Hunt Shrimp
There are a few key reasons why clown loaches are such effective shrimp hunters:
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Size Difference: Adult clown loaches grow 6-12 inches long, while most aquarium shrimp only reach 1-2 inches. This huge size difference makes shrimp an easy target.
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Natural Instincts: In the wild, clown loaches are bottom-dwelling predators that hunt small invertebrates. Your precious cherry shrimp look just like their natural prey!
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Hunting Style Clown loaches have a unique hunting technique where they flip prey upside down and use powerful suction to eat them – pretty brutal for the shrimp!
Can They Ever Live Together Successfully?
I’ve experimented with keeping shrimp and clown loaches together, and while it’s challenging, there are some ways to improve survival rates. Here’s what’s worked for me:
1. Tank Setup is Critical
- Get a BIG tank – At least 100 gallons to give everyone space
- Dense planting – Load up on live plants to create hiding spots
- Lots of caves/crevices – Small spaces where shrimp can hide but loaches can’t reach
- Multiple levels – Use driftwood and rocks to create different zones
2. Population Management
Recommended Starting Numbers:- 40+ shrimp - 3-4 clown loaches maxThe key is starting with a large enough shrimp colony that can sustain some losses while still breeding successfully
3. Feeding Strategy
To reduce predation, keep your loaches well-fed with:
- Live foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp)
- High-quality sinking pellets
- Algae wafers
- Regular feeding schedule (2-3x daily)
Better Tank Mates for Your Shrimp
Look, I get wanting an interesting community tank. But if you really want your shrimp to thrive, here are some better tank mate options
- Guppies
- Rasboras
- Corydoras catfish
- Kuhli loaches
- Small tetras
These fish are either too small to eat adult shrimp or simply not interested in hunting them.
My Personal Experience
When I first tried keeping cherry shrimp with my clown loaches, I lost almost the whole colony within a week! The loaches treated it like an all-you-can-eat buffet. But after setting up a heavily planted 125g tank with tons of hiding spots, I’ve managed to maintain a stable shrimp population alongside 3 juvenile clown loaches.
The key was:
- Starting with 50+ shrimp
- Adding lots of moss and floating plants
- Feeding the loaches very well
- Accepting some losses
Tips for Success
If you’re determined to try keeping them together, here are my top tips:
Do:
- Use lots of live plants
- Create multiple hiding areas
- Feed loaches well
- Monitor water parameters closely
- Start with larger shrimp colonies
Don’t:
- Keep large groups of loaches
- Use bare tanks
- Expect all shrimp to survive
- Skip water changes
- Forget to feed regularly
The Bottom Line
While it’s possible to keep clown loaches and shrimp together with careful planning, it’s definitely not ideal. You’ll need to accept that some shrimp will become fish food – that’s just nature! If you want a thriving shrimp colony, you’re better off choosing peaceful community fish instead.
But hey, if you’re up for the challenge and willing to put in the work, it can be done. Just remember – a well-fed loach is less likely to go hunting for shrimp snacks!
Would you like me to explain anything else about keeping these species together? Drop a comment below with your questions or experiences!
Remember: Every tank is different, and what works in one setup might not work in another. Always observe your fish closely and be ready to separate species if needed.
How to Set Up an Aquarium for Clown Loaches
Our #1 piece of advice is to keep the water hotter than normal at 82-86°F (28-30°C). Clown loaches can be prone to ich (or white spot disease), especially since they are often transported in cooler temperatures, so when you take them home, make sure to isolate them in a quarantine tank first so that they won’t accidentally spread disease to your other fish. Treat them with Ich-X medication or salt if needed, and then wait until you’re sure they are healthy and eating well before transferring them to your main display tank. To make sure the water stays hot enough at all times, some clown loach owners invest in backup heaters or a generator for power outages.
In general, clown loaches tend to be more active at dawn and dusk when the sun isn’t as bright. If you find them disappearing all the time, consider dimming the lights or using Indian almond leaves to naturally stain the water with tannins. Also, add plenty of hides so they can dart into them and feel safe inside.
What size tank do clown loaches need? For juveniles, the minimum size we recommend is a 55-gallon aquarium. Because clown loaches are slow growers, this fish tank may last you until they are about 3 years old or 6 inches (15 cm) long. Afterwards, you will need to upgrade their aquarium to a larger size. Make sure you have enough room for a monster tank because it can be very difficult to rehome large fish.
Try to keep as many clown loaches as possible, with the expectation that they will become 1-foot giants in the future.
How many clown loaches should be kept together? As a schooling fish, they can be a bit shy if you do not get enough friends (of the same species) to hang out with. If you have three, they may hide a lot. If you have six, they may hide some of the time. If you get 30, they will be out all the time. In other words, the more clown loaches you can house together, the more you will see them.
Are clown loaches good community fish? Yes, as long as you do not put them with fish or invertebrates that are small enough to fit in their mouths. In fact, if you cannot keep a giant group of clown loaches, try adding a bunch of schooling fish to act as dither fish. Dither fish are outgoing species that swim out in the open, signaling to timid fish that it is safe to come out. Rainbowfish, Congo tetras, and tiger barbs are all suitable tank mates that can encourage your clown loaches to stop hiding.
What is a Clown Loach?
Chromobotia macracanthus is a large and beautiful loach originating from the western islands of Indonesia. The clown loach gets its common name from its colorful appearance, consisting of bright red-orange fins, a yellow-tan body, and three prominent black bands. They also exhibit silly, clown-like antics such as lying on their sides to sleep, making clicking sounds to communicate, and piling on top of each other in a tight corner. We’ve even seen a clown loach pick up a little stone with its mouth while the other clown loaches chase it around, like a pack of playful puppies.
What size do clown loaches get? Clown loaches are typically sold as relatively small juveniles in pet stores, and most people do not realize how big they get because they grow so slowly. In our care, they have reached lengths of 12-13 inches (30-33 cm) long with a beefy body of 5-6 inches (13-15 cm) tall, almost the size of an American football.
The colors of adult clown loaches usually fade over time as they get older.
Are clown loaches aggressive? Not in our experience. We will go over appropriate tank mates later in this article, but we have kept them in African cichlid tanks, community aquariums, and oddball fish setups. You may sometimes see them spar with each other, but this is normal behavior to establish their pecking order. (As a side note, be aware that they have a retractable spike under each eye that can accidentally get caught in your fish net or hand if you need to move them.)
Do clown loaches eat shrimp
FAQ
Will clown loaches eat other fish?
A: Bob replies: Clown loaches can occasionally take small fish, although this is also true of most species: if they can fit another fish in their mouth then sooner or later, they will try! But with careful choice of the species of new fish, I wouldn’t be unduly worried, especially if the loach is well fed.
What food do clown loaches eat?
Clown Loaches feed primarily on worms, crustaceans and soft plant material in the wild. Things like bloodworms, earthworms, shrimps, prawns, tinned peas, Sushi Nori, and cooked spinach all make better food items than any of the things you have listed.
Does a clownfish eat shrimp?
Aside from what they can pick off their host, wild clownfish are omnivores that basically eat whatever they can find. They mainly live off zooplankton, a wide range of tiny creatures that float through the water column. This can include copepods, all sorts of larvae, fish eggs, small shrimp and more.
Do loaches eat shrimp?
Loaches are natural scavengers and will eat anything they find, including shrimp. To reduce the risk of predation, provide the loaches with a varied and balanced diet. High-quality sinking pellets, flakes, and frozen foods are good options. By ensuring the loaches are well-fed, they will be less likely to view shrimp as prey.
Do clown loaches eat Amano shrimps?
Clown loaches will gladly feed on Amano shrimps if given the opportunity. After all, there isn’t much difference between Amano shrimps and cherry shrimps in terms of size. Amanos can grow to 2 inches, which is slightly more than the 1.2-inch cherry shrimp. But this makes no difference to an 8-10-inch loach.
Do clown loach eat fish?
The Clown loach will eat small fish and fish fry, shellfish, which they will suck from the shell. If it’s small enough, it isn’t safe.) Other Fish – (Clown Loach tank mates are usually pretty safe unless they are small fish fry which can be just as irresistible to most other fish as well).
What to feed loaches in a shrimp/loach aquarium?
Hell, you can even feed your loaches some feeder shrimp to cater to their preference for shrimp meat. Anything goes, so long as it diverts your loaches’ attention from your cherry shrimp population. Casualties are bound to happen in a shrimp/loach aquarium; nature demands it. So, you should prepare for it by flooding the tank with shrimp.
Do clown loaches eat snails?
I have mentioned above that Clown Loaches will eat snails. They are often sold as a solution to keep snail populations down in aquariums and will often do a great job. The easiest way to give your Clown Loach the variety they need in their diet is to buy dry or frozen food from your local aquarium or even online.
Can clown loaches eat worms?
For example, you could feed the fish earthworms or bloodworms as snacks. These are sold in pet stores that sell fish products, and your clown loaches will love eating them. This might be a good idea if you’re looking for a fun weekly snack for your fish.