All fish / Loricariidae

Twig Catfish

Farlowella isbruckeri

Also known as twig catfish, stick catfish, farlowella, isbrucker's twig catfish, whiptail catfish, ファルロウェラ, 小精灵枯枝鲶, 枯枝鲶

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This is a very slender armoured catfish with a long snout and thin tail filaments, so it looks just like a twig or stick. Its brown colouring with a dark line along each side helps it vanish among branches and plants. People keep it because its looks are unusual, it is peaceful, and it grazes algae.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

16 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

100 litres

Keep as

Single or small group of 2 to 4

Diet

Herbivore: biofilm, algae, sinking algae wafers, blanched courgette and spinach, with occasional small frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin, Peru and Brazil

Breeding

It has been bred in captivity. The female lays eggs on glass or smooth wood, and the male guards them until they hatch after about a week. Raising the fry is hard because they need a constant supply of biofilm and fine plant foods.

Good to know

It needs clean, well oxygenated water and a mature tank with plenty of algae and driftwood, and it often starves in new or bare setups. Keep it away from boisterous or nippy tankmates that will outcompete it for food.