Juveniles mainly feed on benthic algae, while adults feed on zooplankton. After understanding what food the short-nosed unicorn eats, let's introduce its morphological characteristics.

Short-nose unicorns hang into the front 1/ 4 parts are white, the rest are olive to dark brown, the gill membrane is white, the body side has dark vertical bands, the upper and lower bands have dark spots, and the head also has dark spots. The caudal fin is white to light blue with a large dark spot at the base. Juveniles are light apricot, with no or inconspicuous horn-like protrusions on the head. Body color gradually turns dark brown as it grows.