All fish / Cobitidae

Horseface Loach

Acantopsis dialuzona

Also known as horse face loach, horsehead loach, horse-faced loach, long-nosed loach, horseface loach, acanthopsis choirorhynchus, ปลาหมูหางแดง, ikan pasir, ホースフェイスローチ, 马头鳅, 长吻鳅

A slender, sandy brown loach with a long, horse-like snout and rows of dark blotches along the flanks. It spends much of its time buried in soft sand with only its eyes showing, and is kept for its odd look and peaceful nature in community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Groups of 3 or more

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and small invertebrates sifted from sand

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southeast Asia: Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Borneo

Breeding

There are no reliable reports of captive breeding; it is believed to scatter eggs in flowing water. Trade fish are wild caught.

Good to know

Needs fine, smooth sand to dig in and good water flow and oxygen; coarse gravel damages its barbels. Trade fish labelled A. choirorhynchus are usually this species or close relatives that are hard to tell apart.