Kifi da aka sani da tsohon ruwa An bayyana shi da siffofinsa na ban mamaki na waje, saboda faranti da ke rufe jikinsu kuma wanda aka bayyana nau'ikan sama da ashirin waɗanda suke na iyali Loricaridae. Haka nan kuma an fi sani da tsohuwar bakar mace; babbar tsohuwa; tsohuwar bulala, da sauransu, tunda fitowarta ba ta zama abin birgewa ba amma muhimmin nau'in com neko tsabtace bango ko gilashi.
Wadannan kifin suna da alamun kare jikinsu, an yi layi da faranti ko garkuwa wanda ya rufe su kamar dai yana da sulke.
De launin ruwan kasa mai launin ruwan kasaYana da manyan faranti a yankin dorsal da gefuna, yana da bayyananniyar ƙyamar dorsal, spiny a cikin haskenta da kuma jela mai girman karimci. Hannun fatarta ya fi na dubura girma.
Kifi ne da ruwan kifi, kuma ya fi son ruwan dumi. Yana da 'yar motsi tunda har yanzu ya daɗe yana jiran wucewar ganimarta ta fado ta dauke shi.
Kodayake tsohuwar ta sabatsabtace saman dutse da ganyen tsire-tsire na ruwa, a cikin akwatinan ruwa suna haɗe da gilashi ko wasu saman ta bakin leɓe, wanda ssuna aiki saboda suna tatse algae da kayan lambu, masu mahimmanci don ingantaccen aiki na akwatin kifaye, waɗannan sune muke kiran masu tsabtace algae.
Hanyar haifuwarsa yana da matukar son sani, tunda suna dauke da tarin hadu da kwan a cikin rami a ƙarƙashin ƙananan muƙamuƙi kuma cewa ba sa barin har sai ƙyanƙyashewar ya fito. Suna da kariya sosai ga theira theiransu, harma su zama masu zafin rai ba tare da saka theira theiran yaransu cikin haɗari ba.
Suna ciyarwa akan: mojarras, kifin kifi, tarpon, boguitas da ƙananan halittu daga ruwan da suke zaune, su ma Yana ciyarwa akan sludge na ƙwayoyi.
Wadannan kifin suna girma cikin sauri, don haka za su iya auna tsakanin 15 zuwa 40 cmWannan yasa basu da amfani sosai a cikin karamin akwatin kifaye.