Acantopsis dialuzona

About This Species

Basic Description

Known for its long, horse-like snout, this fish is a bottom-dweller that loves to dig and burrow in sandy substrates. It is a social creature that thrives in small groups and feels most secure with companions. As an omnivore, it enjoys a varied diet of sinking foods. Be aware that this fish is an accomplished jumper, so a securely covered aquarium is a must to keep it safe.

Detailed Description

The Horseface Loach is a fascinating benthic fish from Asia, distinguished by its elongated snout used for sifting through substrate for food. This natural digging behavior necessitates a soft, fine-grained sand bottom in the aquarium to protect its delicate snout and barbels from injury. Due to its tendency to uproot vegetation, they are best housed with robust, well-anchored plants or floating varieties. These loaches are inherently social and exhibit more natural behaviors when kept in groups, which helps mitigate shyness. Their moderate activity level is often expressed through burrowing, completely hiding themselves, and periods of foraging. A tight-fitting lid is crucial, as their ability to jump poses a significant risk of escape.

Scientific Description

Acantopsis dialuzona is a freshwater species from the Cobitidae family, adapted to environments with low water flow. Its most prominent morphological feature is the elongated rostrum, specialized for a fossorial lifestyle, sifting through benthic substrates for invertebrates and detritus. This omnivorous feeding strategy requires a habitat with fine, non-abrasive material. In a captive environment, its metabolic and waste output results in a moderate bioload. While this species displays conspecific social behavior and should be housed in groups, successful captive breeding is exceptionally rare and considered difficult, likely due to complex environmental triggers for spawning that are hard to replicate. Its environmental interactions include notable substrate bioturbation and a propensity for escaping uncovered tanks.