Horseface Loach

[maurizio]

I would love (and probably need) a bottom sifter, and I can't think of anything more fascinating than A. Choirorhynchos. BUT, given the tank status shown below, do I still have room for it?

Also, I found very contradictory information on the web, especially about its attitude towards other specimens of the same species: some say that you need at least 3+ to make them happy, some say it can be aggressive towards its own, so better be kept alone.

Same with size: HOW BIG do they actually get in captivity? The tank is 120x40 cm.

 

[nmonks]

Horseface Loaches are for very low-end brackish systems, I'd say no higher than SG 1.003 at 25 C/77 F.

I'd allow 180-200 litres for the first specimen, and another 100 litres for each additional specimen.

Under aquarium conditions they get fairly big, around 20 cm, but chunky, so don't underestimate their need for space. They're most easily kept as singletons, but in groups of at least three they can work okay, and ideally, at least five. As ever with loaches, the bigger the group, the less harmful their social interactions. Acantopsis choirorhynchos is basically peaceful towards tankmates, but there's a very similar species, Acantopsis octoactinotos, that is much more territorial (keep singly!) and much more predatory. Retailers haven't a clue which one they're selling, so print off photos of both, and check which one is on sale yourself. The Loaches Online site has some nice information on telling them apart, which basically comes down to head shape (the head of Acantopsis octoactinotos doesn't curve downwards) and behaviour (Acantopsis octoactinotos doesn't burrow much).

Cheers, Neale

 

[maurizio]

And... thanks again, Neale!

My tank is 240 l, but full up to 150-160 l, to give the archers some playground. So, I'd say no go for my tank for now.

Cheers, Maurizio

 

[lloyd]

Hi got any pictures of the tank?

 

[maurizio]

Hi got any pictures of the tank?

Sure lloyd! This was the original setup, with hornwort (I removed its last remnants yesterday) and a number of aerial plants (orchids and tillandsiae), which are having a hard time (too close to the lights, I guess). Now only the fake hanging mangrove leaves are left, which I'm planning to increase in number, so to make a much darker tank all in all. I'll just keep a strong light spot (still studying the optimal lighting solution) for growing the mangrove seedles.

Many more in my (B)log, below.

Thanks for watching.

 

[lloyd]

its very nice

 

[maurizio]

Thanks!