Farlowella Catfish

The Farlowella catfish, or twig catfish (Farlowella acus), is a slender South American loricariid that looks remarkably like a waterlogged stick. The body is long, thin and brown with a darker stripe running from the pointed snout to the tail, and the fish spends most of the day resting lengthways along wood, plant stems or the glass. Its calm manner and unusual outline make it a favourite in planted tanks. Aquarium care Best added to a mature, established aquarium rather than a newly cycled one; this species is sensitive to unstable water quality. Largely a grazer. Supplement any aufwuchs in the tank with algae wafers and blanched vegetables such as courgette or cucumber. Driftwood and broad leaves give it something to rest on and rasp at, and are worth providing. Peaceful and easily out-competed at feeding time, so make sure food reaches the bottom. Prefers gentle to moderate flow with clean, well-oxygenated water. Slim and delicate. Move it with a container rather than a net where possible. Farlowella catfish suit a patient keeper running a settled, planted community. Good tankmates are small, peaceful species such as tetras, rasboras, corydoras and dwarf cichlids; avoid boisterous or fin-nipping fish and anything large enough to bully them. Stock rotates constantly and livestock is available for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See what is in now in catfish.