All fish / Loricariidae

Farlowella Catfish

Farlowella knerii

Also known as twig catfish, stick catfish, farlowella, kner's twig catfish, whiptail catfish, ファロウェラ・クネリ, 小精灵枯木鲶, 枯枝鲶

This very slender armoured catfish looks just like a brown twig, with a long snout and a tail ending in long filaments. It is kept for its unusual camouflage and gentle nature, grazing algae on wood, glass and leaves.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

22 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Singly or in small groups

Diet

Herbivore: algae, blanched vegetables, algae wafers, with occasional small frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin in Ecuador, Colombia and Peru

Breeding

Pairs lay eggs on glass or smooth surfaces in well-oxygenated water and the male guards them until they hatch. It has been bred in home aquariums, but rearing the fry needs plenty of fine algae and very clean water.

Good to know

Needs clean, well-oxygenated water with gentle current and a mature tank with algae and driftwood; it starves easily when kept with boisterous or competitive feeders. Several similar Farlowella species are sold under the same trade names.