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AI illustration of a left-facing clown loach with an orange body, three broad black bands and visible mouth barbels

Loaches

51 species

Clown loaches and Sewellia illustrate different priorities within this gallery: adult group space, flowing water and reliable food sources.

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AI illustration of a left-facing clown loach with an orange body, three broad black bands and visible mouth barbels
Clown loachUp to 40 cm · 24–30 °CThree bold dark bands; a growing group needs substantial space
Acantopsis dialuzona: natural-colour, left-facing lateral AI illustration, not a photograph; intended representative adult form, sex unspecified; no specimen, exact-stage or expert identification is claimed.
Piglet horseface loachUp to 25 cm · 25–28 °CA long-snouted sand sifter whose upper tail-base eyespot merits a closer look.
Ambastaia nigrolineata — left-facing adult AI illustration, not a photograph
Ambastaia nigrolineataUp to 8 cm · 20–25 °CStrong lateral and dorsal dark lines; connecting bars are usually less prominent than in adult A. sidthimunki.
Ambastaia sidthimunki — left-facing adult AI illustration, not a photograph
Ambastaia sidthimunkiUp to 5.5 cm · 20–30 °CDark lines form a chain-like pattern; compare adults with A. nigrolineata rather than relying on juvenile markings.
Beaufortia kweichowensis — left-facing adult AI illustration, not a photograph
Beaufortia kweichowensisUp to 8 cm · 16–24 °CA broad, flattened outline and small spots contrast with the lined pattern of Sewellia lineolata; structural views still matter.
Beaufortia zebroida: natural-colour, left-facing lateral AI illustration, not a photograph; intended representative adult form, sex unspecified; no specimen, exact-stage or expert identification is claimed.
Beaufortia zebroidaUp to 2.7 cmUneven narrow stripes on a yellow-brown hillstream loach with flattened paired fins.
Botia dario — natural-colour representative adult, sex unspecified; left-facing AI illustration, not a photograph.
Bengal loachUp to 15.1 cm · 23–26 °CA distinctly curved head and broad dark bars, sometimes separated by finer pale bars; patterns can change with growth.
Botia histrionica — left-facing adult AI illustration, not a photograph
Botia histrionicaUp to 13 cm · 22–28 °CYoung fish carry five dark bands; pale spots develop with growth, creating confusion with juvenile B. kubotai.
Botia kubotai — left-facing adult AI illustration, not a photograph
Botia kubotai22–28 °CPale spots break up a dark network that changes as the fish grows; juveniles can resemble other Botia.
Botia striata — left-facing adult AI illustration, not a photograph
Botia striataUp to 7.8 cm · 21–26 °CNumerous narrow, slanting dark stripes and often reddish mouthparts distinguish this loach from more blotched Botia.
Erromyzon kalotaenia, representative adult in left-facing lateral AI illustration; not a photograph.
Erromyzon kalotaeniaUp to 4.8 cmA row of low square flank blotches and pectorals ending before the pelvic origins
Gastromyzon ornaticauda: natural-colour, left-facing lateral AI illustration, not a photograph; intended representative adult form, sex unspecified; no specimen, exact-stage or expert identification is claimed.
Gastromyzon ornaticaudaUp to 7 cm · 20–24 °CSparse pale body marks and a blue-green tail centre edged red above and below
Gastromyzon zebrinus: natural-colour, left-facing lateral AI illustration, not a photograph; intended representative adult form, sex unspecified; no specimen, exact-stage or expert identification is claimed.
Gastromyzon zebrinusUp to 6.1 cm · 20–24 °CA dark stone-clinging loach with variable fine pale bars
Homaloptera confuzona, representative adult in left-facing lateral AI illustration; not a photograph.
Homaloptera confuzonaUp to 6.8 cmIrregular saddles on a brown body; a gecko-loach label cannot confirm identity
AI illustration of adult Homaloptera ogilviei, complete left-facing lateral view
Homaloptera ogilvieiUp to 5 cm · 20–25.5 °CThe pale pinkish-brown body bears irregular dark blotches, with the largest saddle extending into the dorsal fin. The paired fins angle downward, unlike the typical flattened, clinging loach form.
AI illustration of adult Homaloptera parclitella, complete left-facing lateral view
Homaloptera parclitellaUp to 8 cm · 20–25.5 °CTwo broad saddle markings dominate the back: one behind the head and one over the dorsal-fin base. These distinguish it from the three saddles of orthogoniata and the numerous irregular markings of confuzona.
AI illustration of adult Homalopteroides tweediei, complete left-facing lateral view
Homalopteroides tweedieiUp to 4 cm · 20–25.5 °CA brown stripe runs along the pale body from the snout to the tail base. Broader brown bars cross the back, and the caudal fin may have 2–3 dark bands.
Leptobotia elongata; natural-colour representative adult, sex unspecified, left-facing AI illustration, not a photograph.
Imperial flower loachUp to 50 cm · 15.5–21 °CBroad blotches on a robust body, with exceptional adult space needs.
Leptobotia taeniops; natural-colour representative adult-form intent, sex unspecified, left-facing lateral AI illustration, not a photograph; no specimen, exact-stage or expert identification is claimed.
Chinese loachUp to 22.8 cm · 15.5–21 °CIrregular purple-brown marbling distinguishes this Leptobotia.
AI illustration of adult Mesonoemacheilus guentheri, complete left-facing lateral view
Mesonoemacheilus guentheriUp to 6 cm · 19–25.5 °CRows of round yellow spots have dark edges, and a dark band crosses the caudal peduncle. These differ from the Y/V-shaped markings of herrei and the diagonal bands of triangularis.
AI illustration of adult Mesonoemacheilus triangularis, complete left-facing lateral view
Mesonoemacheilus triangularisUp to 6 cm · 18–25.5 °CPale, oblique saddles have black borders; in juveniles they may join into sideways arrow-shaped bands. Adult markings are more fragmented and complex.
Full left-facing side-view AI illustration of Micronemacheilus cruciatus
Micronemacheilus cruciatusUp to 4 cm · 22–27 °CA small, relatively deep-bodied loach with clear vertical bars that hovers in midwater and explores different levels, unlike most bottom-hugging loaches.
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus: natural-colour, left-facing lateral AI illustration, not a photograph; intended representative adult form, sex unspecified; no specimen, exact-stage or expert identification is claimed.
Oriental weatherloachUp to 28 cm · 17.8–23.3 °CA mottled, round-tailed bottom dweller needing cool care and its own meals.
Niwaella delicata: natural-colour, left-facing lateral AI illustration, not a photograph; intended representative adult form, sex unspecified; no specimen, exact-stage or expert identification is claimed.
Ajime loachUp to 9.5 cm · 20–24 °CAn elongated stone grazer with irregular flank blotches and a fleshy mouth.
Pangio anguillaris; natural-colour representative adult-form intent, sex unspecified, left-facing lateral AI illustration, not a photograph; no specimen, exact-stage or expert identification is claimed.
Eel loachAbout 5 cm · 22–29 °CAn exceptionally slender loach with fine grey-gold pigment.
Pangio bitaimac: natural-colour, left-facing lateral AI illustration, not a photograph; intended representative adult form, sex unspecified; no specimen, exact-stage or expert identification is claimed.
Sumatran neon loachUp to 9.5 cm · 21–26 °CA slender violet-brown loach identified by more than a blue sheen.
Pangio cuneovirgata: natural-colour, left-facing lateral AI illustration, not a photograph; intended representative adult form, female-form intent; no specimen, exact-stage or expert identification is claimed.
Dwarf kuhli loachUp to 6 cm · 21–26 °CSmall eel loach with wedge-shaped saddles above a pale lower flank.
Pangio myersi; natural-colour representative adult, sex unspecified, left-facing AI illustration, not a photograph.
Myers' loachUp to 10 cm · 21–26 °CBroad chocolate bands and narrow orange gaps on a stout eel loach.
Pangio oblonga; natural-colour representative adult-form intent, sex unspecified, left-facing lateral AI illustration, not a photograph; no specimen, exact-stage or expert identification is claimed.
Black kuhli loachUp to 8 cm · 21–26 °CA plain brown sand-burrowing loach that needs its own meals.
Paracanthocobitis botia, representative adult in left-facing lateral AI illustration; not a photograph.
Paracanthocobitis botiaUp to 15.2 cm · 21–26 °CA dark eyespot sits on the upper caudal peduncle. Dorsal saddles and round to triangular flank spots form a rather irregular pattern; the eyespot is often stronger in juveniles.
Physoschistura mango — left-facing adult AI illustration, not a photograph
Physoschistura mango20–26 °CThe illustration shows a non-nuptial male with a small brown-gold body and dark flank stripe. Males can become orange-red; larger, rounder females are spotted. These are sexes of one species.
AI illustration of Pseudogastromyzon fasciatus, complete left-facing lateral view
Zebra hillstream loachUp to 8.2 cmDark bars over a pale yellow-brown body, with a raised dorsal during territorial displays
AI illustration of Pseudogastromyzon laticeps, complete left-facing lateral view
Pseudogastromyzon laticepsUp to 6.7 cmA broad low head and variable fin colours; purple fins alone do not identify it
AI illustration of Pseudogastromyzon myersi, complete left-facing lateral view
Pseudogastromyzon myersiUp to 6 cmA mottled stone-clinging loach whose dorsal may have a yellow base and red edge
Schistura ataranensis, representative adult in left-facing lateral AI illustration; not a photograph.
Schistura ataranensisTwo conspicuous orange to pink pale bands cross the dark body. The dorsal fin has 2–3 black bars, and a complete broad black band crosses the caudal-fin base, distinguishing it from true balteata.
Schistura balteata, representative adult in left-facing lateral AI illustration; not a photograph.
Schistura balteataUp to 8 cm · 22–26 °CTwo dark vertical bars lie beneath the dorsal fin; the caudal-fin base lacks a black crossband. Do not automatically identify pink-orange-banded fish sold as sumo as this species.
AI illustration of adult Serpenticobitis octozona, complete left-facing lateral view
Serpenticobitis octozonaUp to 5.5 cm · 23–26 °CThe dark body has about 8–9 narrow pale bands spanning its depth. It can cling to vertical or overhanging surfaces.
Sewellia lineolata — left-facing adult AI illustration, not a photograph
Sewellia lineolataUp to 5.7 cm · 20–24 °CA flattened body and spread paired fins suit fast water. Lines on the flanks help distinguish it from spotted relatives.
Sinibotia pulchra — natural-colour adult with dark bars and pale gold gaps, sex unspecified; left-facing AI illustration, not a photograph.
Golden zebra loachUp to 10 cm · 20–25.5 °CDark bars, pale gold gaps, marked head and oblique tail bands.
Sinibotia robusta — stocky natural-colour adult with divided dark and gold bars, sex unspecified; left-facing AI illustration, not a photograph.
Kansu loachUp to 18 cm · 20–25.5 °CA stockier loach whose dark and gold bars divide with growth.
Syncrossus berdmorei; natural-colour representative adult-form intent, sex unspecified, left-facing lateral AI illustration, not a photograph; no specimen, exact-stage or expert identification is claimed.
Redfin tiger loach21–26 °CVertical bars meet rows of spots on an assertive tiger loach.
Syncrossus helodes — natural-colour representative adult, sex unspecified; left-facing AI illustration, not a photograph.
Banded tiger loachUp to 30 cm · 24–30 °CA pointed snout, broad bars and small dark lower-flank marks.
AI illustration of adult Syncrossus hymenophysa, complete left-facing lateral view
Syncrossus hymenophysaUp to 21 cm · 25–30 °CAbout 12–15 dark, blue-edged vertical bars cross the flanks. The dorsal fin has dark spots; the lower body lacks the fine spotting seen in helodes.
Traccatichthys pulcher, representative adult in left-facing lateral AI illustration; not a photograph.
Traccatichthys pulcherUp to 12 cm · 20.5–23.8 °CGray-green flanks and a yellowish belly, with a conspicuous black spot in the center of the tail base. The head is relatively pointed, with three pairs of barbels.
AI illustration of adult Vaillantella maassi, complete left-facing lateral view
Vaillantella maassiUp to 12.5 cm · 23–29 °CA distinct orange-yellow line runs along the back of the slender blue-brown body, from snout to tail base. The dorsal fin is exceptionally long and the tail is forked.
Yaoshania pachychilus, representative adult in left-facing lateral AI illustration; not a photograph.
Panda loachUp to 5.8 cmJuvenile panda bars change into adult longitudinal markings
Yasuhikotakia modesta — natural-colour representative adult, sex unspecified; left-facing AI illustration, not a photograph.
Redtail botiaUp to 25 cm · 23–28 °CA deep, compact blue-grey body with red or yellow-orange fins; compare body shape and caudal markings with Y. lecontei.
Yasuhikotakia morleti — natural-colour representative adult, sex unspecified; left-facing AI illustration, not a photograph.
Skunk loachUp to 10 cm · 23–28 °CA dark top stripe joins a bold tail-base band.

Aquarium loach types: compare shape, groups and flow

Follow identity beyond a trade name

This gallery includes Chromobotia macracanthus, the clown loach, and Sewellia lineolata. The Chinese trade name for the clown loach includes a word also used for cory catfish; the scientific name resolves that ambiguity. Cory catfish have their own browsing group. Start with the outline and markings, then record what you can identify confidently.

Clown loaches need an adult group plan

Plan space for adult clown loaches and their social relationships, not just the size of juveniles in a shop. They eat snails but need a varied diet. Buying one simply to remove unwanted snails overlooks the long-term requirements of the fish. Read the species profile before using snail-eating as a reason to select it.

Sewellia needs more than a visible patch of algae

Sewellia lineolata comes from flowing, well-oxygenated waters. Its profile emphasises an established environment and surfaces carrying biofilm. A fish grazing on stone or glass is not a general-purpose cleaner. Consider flow, oxygen and suitable food together; installing a circulation pump does not by itself complete the habitat.

Compare the relevant requirements

For these two candidates, begin with different questions: adult group space for clown loaches, and flowing-water habitat and feeding surfaces for Sewellia. Other loaches still need their own assessment. Use the profiles below to compare sourced information and leave unknowns visible. Shared bottom-dwelling habits or overlapping temperature ranges do not establish compatibility.

Sources

www.seriouslyfish.com/species/chromobotia-macracanthus

www.seriouslyfish.com/species/sewellia-lineolata

PeekFish · Ornamental fish

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