Slender horseface loach
Acantopsis ioa
Also known as Io horseface loach
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 6.3 in
- 16 cm
- Minimum tank
- 42 gal
- 160 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cobitidae
- Origin
- Mekong mainstem, Thailand and Laos
Overview
The slender horseface loach is a peaceful, sand-burrowing bottom fish for a community tank. It is a step past the easiest loaches.
Did you know
For decades, every horseface loach in the trade was called one species. The 2017 revision showed the group hides many, and the slender horseface loach was one of the species newly named.
Caring for the slender horseface loach
Give slender horseface loaches a tank of 42 gal (160 L) or more, with an open floor. A deep bed of fine sand is not optional, so give them several centimeters to bury in. Never keep any horseface loach on gravel, which ruins their snouts.
Keep the water warm, at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. The slender horseface loach spends daylight hours buried, with its periscope eyes out. Drop sinking worms and granules near dusk, and they get eaten enthusiastically.
Keep a few together. They are peaceful and safe with other community fish.
Good to know
The slender horseface loach, Acantopsis ioa, belongs to the family Cobitidae. It is the slender, fine-snouted member of the horseface group.
In the wild
The slender horseface loach lives over open sand in the Mekong mainstem, in Thailand and Laos. There it buries itself up to the eyes and waits.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The slender horseface loach is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Laos giant danio
Devario acrostomus
Freshwater4.4 in (11.3 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Redfin halfbeak
Nomorhamphus ebrardtii
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blotched sisorid catfish
Glyptothorax macromaculatus
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Desert rainbowfish
Melanotaenia splendida tatei
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)64–86°F (18–30°C)
Striped panchax
Aplocheilus lineatus
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)72–77°F (22–25°C)
Gongota loach
Canthophrys gongota
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a slender horseface loach need?
A slender horseface loach needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a slender horseface loach need?
A slender horseface loach is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a slender horseface loach eat?
A slender horseface loach eats sinking worms and granules. Drop them in near dusk, and they get eaten enthusiastically.
How big does a slender horseface loach get?
An adult slender horseface loach reaches about 6.3 in (16 cm).
Related species
7.9 in (20 cm)55 gal (210 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)Horseface loach
Acantopsis dialuzona
7.9 in (20 cm) · 55 gal (210 L)
6 in (15.3 cm)42 gal (160 L)59–75°F (15–24°C)Chinese spiny loach
Cobitis sinensis
6 in (15.3 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
- 5.1 in (13 cm)42 gal (160 L)70–81°F (21–27°C)
Gongota loach
Canthophrys gongota
5.1 in (13 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Eel kuhli loach
Pangio anguillaris
4.7 in (12 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)24 gal (90 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)Guntea loach
Lepidocephalichthys guntea
4.7 in (12 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Giant kuhli loach
Pangio myersi
3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)