Profile: Horse Face Loach

Alternative names

Horsefaced Loach, Horseface Loach, Long Nosed Loach, Banana Loach

Synonym

Acantopsis biaculeata, Acantopsis choerorhynchus, Acantopsis dialuzona, Acantopsis dialyzona, Acantopsis diazona

Sexing

Females are mostly larger than the males with a broader abdomen. Mature females may also have more of a reddish colour while the males are more silver/grey.

Origin

Found in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaya, Indonesia (Sumatra and Java), Borneo, and Vietnam. Known from the Chao Phraya and Mekong basin.

Tank compatibility

A peaceful Loach, keep with peaceful tank mates. Keep this Loach in groups of at least 3 or 4, not singly.

Diet

Will accept most foods including sinking pellet and flake as well as bloodworm and brine shrimp.

Feeding

Feed once or twice a day.

Environment Specifics

Must have a smooth sandy substrate which they will sift through looking for food and bury themselves. Provide hiding places also, they may bury themselves in the sand.

Behaviour

Spend a lot of time hidden in the tank, not a fish you will see often. Known to be good jumpers so a well fitting lid is a must.

Identification

An elongate slender fish with an exceptionally long snout. The body is silver-cream in colour with short brown bands across the spine, with small pale brown scattered spots below and a line of larger deep brown spots down the lateral line. The belly is pale.