Compatibility brief
Can Clown Loach live with Mystery Snail?
Risky. This mix is commonly discouraged for typical setups.
Compatibility score
Profile confidence: low
Order of checkstank volume vs adults → predation mouth gap → temperament / fin nipping → shared water windows.
400L
Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 400L (larger active fish often want more length).
Clown loaches often harass and eat mystery snails, especially when the loaches are hungry or the snail is vulnerable. The behaviour is common enough that snail keepers treat clown loaches as incompatible with ornamental snails. A large tank does not reliably stop the hunting instinct.
Assessment details
Known incompatible pairing
Top issueClown loaches harass mystery snails, often pulling them out of the shell. Even when they cannot crack the shell, the snail stays sealed and starves over weeks.
Clown Loach eats snails
Clown Loach preys on aquarium snails — Mystery Snail will be hunted, not cohabited. Do not mix a valued snail with this species.
Compatible temperature range
Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.
“Clown loaches harass mystery snails, often pulling them out…”
Known incompatible pairing
Next steps
Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.
- •Keep mystery snails with peaceful non-loach communities. Keep clown loaches with robust tank mates and expect snails to be treated as food.
- •Clown Loach should be kept in a group of at least 6 for best health and behaviour.
- •Clown Loach reaches ~30cm: tank length and turning room matter more than the litre number. A tall, short tank of the same volume is not equivalent.
- Seriously Fish. Chromobotia macracanthus
Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).
- FishBase. Chromobotia macracanthus
Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.
- Wikipedia. Chromobotia macracanthus
Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.
- Aquarium Co-Op. Mystery Snail Care Guide
Primary: retailer care guide on tank size, calcium needs, breeding clutches, and the bridgesii-vs-canaliculata distinction.
- Applesnail.net. Pomacea bridgesii
Secondary: long-running hobby reference for apple snail biology, breeding, and species ID; useful for telling bridgesii from canaliculata.
Try this next
Build the full stocking list with Clown Loach + Mystery Snail
Plan further
Check each species’ mates list, size the glass, then verify the full stock in the builder. Methodology explains how verdicts are produced.
Individual fish vary in personality. Fishori uses conservative hobby rules. Observe any new introduction closely, feed thoughtfully, and keep a quarantine or backup plan. This is not veterinary advice.
Profile data confidence: medium. Driven by the lower-confidence profile (Mystery Snail): Typical care sources — trade names for this fish get mixed up, so verify the ID before you buy.