Horseface Loach

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Scientific Name

Acantopsis choirorhynchos

Min. Tank Size

60 gallons

Personality

Peaceful/Possibly territorial w/conspecifics

Temperature

77-84°F

pH

6.0-7.5/2-15°dGH

Size

8"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Best kept with 6 or more of its own species; can be kept with Danios, Cyprinids and other Loaches.

Horseface Loach

Also known by the trade names Long-Nosed and Banana Loach, the Horseface Loach is named for its elongated, horse-like snout. These fish exhibit elongated bodies that are typically light brown in color, ornamented with an assortment of darker spots and stripes. The Horseface Loach was originally described in the Palambang Province of Sumatra but have also been found in parts of India, southern China, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. In their native environment, these fish tend to inhabit flowing rivers but may migrate to flooded areas during the wet season.

Tank Set-Up

In the home aquarium, Horseface Loaches are fairly easy to keep when provided with plenty of soft, sandy substrate. These fish may injure themselves trying to dig into gravel, so this type of substrate is best avoided. This species prefers dim lighting and sparse decoration in the form of rocks and driftwood roots or branches. Because these fish require clean, highly oxygenated water, weekly water changes of 30% to 50% of the tank volume are recommended. Because some specimens may exhibit aggressive or territorial behaviors, these fish are best kept with species that tend to swim in the upper levels of the tank.

Feeding

Horseface Loaches feed by sifting through the substrate, filtering out insect larvae and small crustaceans. In the home aquarium, these fish are likely to accept a variety of foods and should be offered a varied diet to encourage optimal health. Give these loaches a staple diet of high-quality sinking foods supplemented with live and frozen foods such as bloodworms, Artemia and Daphnia.

Breeding

Size is the main factor used in sexing these fishes – females tend to grow much larger than the males of this species, sometimes double the size. Very little is known about the breeding habits of this species. There are no known reports of spawning Horseface Loaches in captivity and even the courtship behaviors of this species are undocumented.