Horseface Loach (Acanthopsis choirorhynchos) Care Guide
A fascinating elongated loach with a distinctively long, horse-like snout. Spends most of its time buried in sand with only its eyes visible, ambushing small invertebrates.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Acanthopsis choirorhynchos is a species in the family Cobitidae. A fascinating elongated loach with a distinctively long, horse-like snout. Spends most of its time buried in sand with only its eyes visible, ambushing small invertebrates. A peaceful burrower that requires a deep layer of fine sand substrate. Rarely seen during the day but active at dusk and dawn.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cobitidae
- Genus: Acanthopsis
- Scientific name: Acanthopsis choirorhynchos
- Other names: Long-nosed Loach, Horsehead Loach
- Origin: Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia
Habitat
Widely distributed across Southeast Asia from the Mekong basin to Sumatra, Java and Borneo. Inhabits sandy-bottomed rivers and streams, where it burrows almost completely into fine sand leaving only the eyes exposed. The elongated, downward-curving snout gives the species its common name.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C
- pH: 6-7.5
- GH: 3-12 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Adult size: 15-22 cm
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
- Difficulty: intermediate
Diet
Classified as omnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 1x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.
Compatibility
- Temperament: peaceful
- Swimming level: bottom
- Compatible tank mates: Corydoras, Harlequin Rasbora, Neon Tetra, Kuhli Loach
- Avoid with: Large Cichlids, Aggressive Bottom Dwellers
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: egg-scatterer
- Breeding difficulty: advanced
Horseface Loach Breeding Guide
Overview
The horseface loach (Acantopsis, traded under names such as A. choirorhynchos / A. dialuzona) is an elongated sand-dwelling loach of the family Cobitidae, native to flowing river channels in Southeast Asia, where larger forms can exceed 200 mm. It spends much of its time buried in sand with only its eyes protruding. Breeding is rated advanced.
Sexing
Females typically grow considerably larger than males, while males have modified pectoral fins with the first one or two branched rays extended.
Breeding Setup
No reproductive setup can be specified because spawning has not been recorded. For general welfare the species must be provided a soft, sandy substrate, since it spends time completely buried; coarse material may cause stress or self-injury. It also requires a high proportion of dissolved oxygen and some water movement.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
No spawning behaviour or reproductive trigger has been documented for this species in captivity. Its natural habits as a riverine, seasonally migrating inhabitant indicate that flood-season environmental cues, which cannot be replicated in a tank, are likely involved.
Common Challenges
The combination of unrecorded reproduction and dependence on wild-caught stock means there is no realistic home breeding pathway. Husbandry instead centres on providing a deep, soft sand bed and well-oxygenated, gently flowing water for this burrowing species.