Acantopsis octoactinotos

An adult Rüsselschmerle.

The Rüsselschmerle is a fish of the family of loaches ( Cobitidae ).

It occurs mainly in Indonesia, where it colonizes the soil regions of fast flowing rivers and streams. It can be found in fresh and brackish water.

One of the Rüsselschmerle very similar type is Acantopsis dialuzona. It differs from Acantopsis octoactinotos by their head shape and the water region, in which he spends usually. However, they are very similar in their behavior and claims.

Origin

The Rüsselschmerle preferably clear, mostly fast flowing waters in Indonesia. The sandy or slightly gravelly bottom of their origin waters they ransacked for food and burrows there also almost completely one. She is able to match the color to the background of this habitat.

Appearance and behavior

The Rüsselschmerle is long, narrow and long up to 12 cm. It has a bright body, which is decorated with black and gray spots and stripes.

The females are larger and usually have a bigger and thicker abdominal area.

It is a solitary and nocturnal fish of the day shows its face only very rarely usually. Other fish to it behaves peacefully and can be easily socialized.

Attitude

Can Rüsselschmerlen in a basin from 100 cm to be kept and require sand or fine gravel. Acantopsis octoactinotos 's a loner can also be kept in pairs in a basin from 120 cm but. There should be enough shade to be present, in which the Rüsselschmerle can stop it. Well suited for this purpose are caves and floating plants. Instead of floating plants (eg Small duckweed ) but can also be used for other large-leaved aquatic plants (eg, sword plants).

Feed

Acantopsis octoactinotos eats mosquito larvae, nematodes, small insect larvae, frozen food and food tablets. However, they also ransacked the ground after fressbaren, such as Algae.