The barbels on the lower jaw are small and difficult to see. Its head is relatively large and its mouth faces downward with thick, fleshy lips, and four pairs of barbels.

The fish's body is long and laterally compressed, with an arched dorsal surface and a flat ventral surface. Information about the maximum size of the clown loach varies, with some estimates ranging up to 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in), and with typical adult sizes ranging from 15–20 cm (5.9–7.9 in). Illustration of a clown loach by Pieter Bleeker, displaying the erected thorn The common name 'clown loach' comes from the fish's bright colours and stripes (often tropical fish with stripes that stand out are commonly called 'clown') as well as from its habit of 'entertaining' aquarium owners with strange habits, such as swimming upside down, or 'playing dead.' Its scientific name roughly translates to “Large-thorned colourful warrior”. Maurice Kottelat divided the genus Botia, containing 47 different species, into seven separate genera, resulting in the clown loach being placed in a genus of its own, Chromobotia.

In 1989, its scientific name was changed to Botia macracanthus. The fish was first described as Cobitis macracanthus by Pieter Bleeker in 1852. It is a popular fish in the freshwater aquarium trade and is sold worldwide. In Sentarum, West Borneo that fish named: ulanguli. It originates in inland waters in Indonesia on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. It is the sole member of the genus Chromobotia.

The clown loach ( Chromobotia macracanthus), or tiger botia, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the botiid loach family.

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