Fish comparison
Cardinal Tetra vs Clown Loach
How the Cardinal Tetra and Clown Loach compare on care, size, water and temperament, and which fish suits your tank.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated
TL;DR, Cardinal Tetra vs Clown Loach
The Cardinal Tetra and the Clown Loach come up together a lot when people are choosing a fish, and they are close enough to weigh side by side. Both are happy somewhere around 25 to 27 °C and pH 6 to 6.5, so a single tank can suit either one. Neither is harder than the other to keep, so the choice comes down to look and stocking rather than skill. If tank space is tight, the Cardinal Tetra needs less room to feel settled; give the Clown Loach the nod when you have the litres to spare.
Group compatibility overview
Excellent fit
Every key parameter overlaps and no major conflicts surfaced.
3 notes
Temperature
- Cardinal Tetra23–27 °C
- Clown Loach25–30 °C
pH
- Cardinal Tetra4.5–6.5
- Clown Loach6–7.5
Hardness
- Cardinal Tetra1–6 dGH
- Clown Loach5–15 dGH
What to plan for
- Cardinal Tetra schools, stock at least 8You've planned for 1 cardinal tetra. Cardinal Tetra need a group of at least 8 to feel safe and shoal naturally, below that they're stressed and lose colour. Dial up the count, or remove the species.
- Clown Loach schools, stock at least 5You've planned for 1 clown loach. Clown Loach need a group of at least 5 to feel safe and shoal naturally, below that they're stressed and lose colour. Dial up the count, or remove the species.
- 67% of your fish swim in the midHeavy concentration in a single zone. Spreading stocking across all three levels makes the tank read fuller for the same bioload.
Full attributes
Every parameter, side by side| Parameter |  FishCardinal TetraParacheirodon axelrodi |  FishClown LoachChromobotia macracanthus |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Fish | Fish |
| Origin | Upper Orinoco and Rio Negro basins | Sumatra and Borneo |
| Family | Characidae | Botiidae |
| Temperature | 23–27 °C | 25–30 °C |
| pH | 4.5–6.5 | 6.0–7.5 |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–6 | 5–15 |
| Flow rate | Low | Medium to high |
| Min tank | 75 L | 450 L |
| Adult size | 4–5 cm | 20–30 cm |
| Difficulty | 3 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| Lifespan | 4–6 yrs | 20–25 yrs |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore (loves snails) |
| Water column | Mid | Bottom to mid |
| Schooling | Yes | Yes |
| Plant safe | Yes | Yes |
| Shrimp safe | Mostly (may eat shrimplets) | No |
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Can you keep Cardinal Tetra and Clown Loach together?
Yes. Their temperature and pH ranges overlap around 25 to 27 °C and pH 6 to 6.5, so one set of water conditions keeps both comfortable. Match group sizes and cover the usual planted-tank basics and they share a tank fine.
Which is easier to keep, the Cardinal Tetra or the Clown Loach?
They sit at the same care level, both middle-of-the-road, so neither is the obvious beginner pick. The decision is really about the look you're after.
Do Cardinal Tetra and Clown Loach need the same water?
Close to it. Aim for 25 to 27 °C and pH 6 to 6.5 and you're in the shared sweet spot for both. Full ranges are in the table above.
What's the main difference between the Cardinal Tetra and the Clown Loach?
Space. The Cardinal Tetra wants about 75 litres minimum and the Clown Loach around 450, so tank size can settle it.