HomeFreshwater aquarium fishLoachesHorseface loach Horseface loach (Acantopsis choirorhynchos) Scientific name: Acantopsis choirorhynchos Bleeker, 1854 Photo: https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/acantopsis-choirorhynchos/ The Horseface loach (Acantopsis choirorhynchos) is a freshwater fish of the family Cobitidae that grows to about 20 cm (7.9 in). It is peaceful, suits community aquariums and needs a tank of at least 210 L (55 US gal), water at 25–29°C (77–84°F) and a pH of 6.0–7.0. Native range: Asia, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaya, Indonesia (Sumatra and Java), Borneo, and Viet Nam occurring in swift, clear streams with sandy or gravelly bottom; also found in large rivers. Burrows into the bottom. Horseface loach care at a glanceTemperamentPeacefulCommunity tankGoodAdult size20 cm (7.9 in)Minimum tank210 L (55 US gal)Temperature25–29°C (77–84°F)pH6.0–7.0Hardness1–12 dGH (18–214 ppm)DietOmnivore. Accepts pellets, algae wafers, frozen foods and live foods. BiologyOccurs in swift, clear streams with sandy or gravelly bottom; also found in large rivers. Burrows into the bottom. Enters flooded fields. Found in the basin-wide mainstream of the lower Mekong.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameAcantopsis choirorhynchosFamilyCobitidae (Loaches)OrderCypriniformes (Carps)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length30.0EnvironmentFreshwater; brackish; demersalClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaya, Indonesia, Borneo, and Viet Nam. Known from the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More loachesBengal loachBotia darioReticulate loachBotia lohachataZebra loachBotia striataCoolie loachPangio kuhliiSkunk botiaYasuhikotakia morletiDwarf botiaYasuhikotakia sidthimunkiSee all loaches Can it live with...?Horseface loach and Banded mountain loachHorseface loach and Bengal loachHorseface loach and Black ghostHorseface loach and Black sharkminnowHorseface loach and Blackbarred limiaHorseface loach and Bleeding-heart tetraHorseface loach and Bloodfin tetraHorseface loach and Bluespotted corydorasHorseface loach and Blyth's loachHorseface loach and Brilliant rasboraHorseface loach and Butterfly splitfinHorseface loach and Chinese suckerHorseface loach and Clown barbHorseface loach and Clown loachHorseface loach and Clown rasboraHorseface loach and Coolie loachHorseface loach and Crescent bettaHorseface loach and Dwarf botiaHorseface loach and Dwarf rainbowfishHorseface loach and Eel LoachHorseface loach and Forktail rainbowfishHorseface loach and Gangetic leaffishHorseface loach and Garnet tetraHorseface loach and Glass catfishHorseface loach and Glowlight tetraHorseface loach and Goldeneye cichlidHorseface loach and Head-and-taillight tetraHorseface loach and Hillstream loachHorseface loach and Indian glassy fishHorseface loach and Leopard corydoras SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026