All fish / Loricariidae

Twig Catfish

Farlowella mariaelenae

Also known as twig catfish, stick catfish, farlowella, whiptail catfish, mariaelena twig catfish, farlowella acus, ファロウエラ, 小精灵枯枝鲶, 枯枝鼠

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A very slender armoured catfish with a long pointed snout and brown body that looks remarkably like a twig. It is kept for its unusual shape, peaceful nature and habit of grazing algae on wood, glass and plants.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

100 litres

Keep as

Singly, in pairs or a small group

Diet

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

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Orinoco basin, Venezuela and Colombia

Breeding

Eggs are laid on glass or smooth vertical surfaces and guarded by the male until they hatch. It has been bred in home aquariums, but rearing the fry needs plenty of biofilm and fine plant foods.

Good to know

Sensitive to poor water quality and to starvation, so it needs a mature tank with plenty of biofilm and should not be kept with boisterous or fin-nipping fish. Often sold under the name Farlowella acus or as a generic twig catfish.