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Brwosing through my lfs I came across some of these critters. I would like them in my tank but know nothing about them.

Any information people could give me would be appreciated.

ie. feeding, habits, compatabilty, max size, tank furniture. Everything really!

[link=Of course fishprofiles has information on them, just click this obsurdly long link!]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/achoirorhynchos.xml" style="COLOR: #FFFF00[/link]

hmmm... much needed added to that profile, lol.

As for the loach, they need a soft substrate, like sand, as they like to burrow under it. If you have it too deep, you will not see them very often, as they will burrow deep. They come out mostly at night to hunt for foods. Keep your substrate about an inch deep, so they will not be too deep in it when you feed them. They do get quite large, but are slow growing. I have had them for several years and they never grew over about 8 inches. So, with this size, they will need at least a 55 gal tank, and even larger would be better.

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There is always a bigger fish...

This page gives some information on the Horsefaced Loach, and likely confusion with a similar species.

I've heard reports that this fish can reach 10 inches, although the consensus seems to be that 8 inches is a more likely maximum size, and only then if given lots of space. According to the above piece, it also likes to buryt itself almost completely in the substrate if it has the opportunity, so a deep, soft substrate is a recommended feature of an aquarium containing this species.

Also, according to this page, Horsefaced Loaches prefer live foods, such as live Bloodworm and White Worms (Enchytraeus). Also, the species is principally nocturnal, so feeding should be performed after 'lights out', otherwise any diurnal fishes in the same aquarium will devour its food before it has a chance to eat.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Thanks very much for all the information. I love this site, everyone is so helpful!

Just bought 3 of the guys today, despite fears that they would hide away and I would never see them (I recently bought an elephant nose whom I returned to my lfs, as on average I only saw him once a week!)

Anyway, when I put them in, the first thing they did was bury themselves deep into my thick sand substrate. Following my experience with my elephant nose, I thought that would be the end of me seeing them! But hey presto, half an hour later they were all out and have been all day. They look superb, I like to think of them as a cross between an alligator, horse and snake!

Also, the lfs said they fed them flake during the day and that was all, so I'll continue to do this I think, just dropping some frozen bloodworms in about twice a week as I do for my other fish.