All fish / Loricariidae

Twig Catfish

Farlowella reticulata

Also known as twig catfish, reticulated twig catfish, stick catfish, farlowella, whiptail catfish, farlowella catfish, ファロウェラ, 小精灵枯枝鲶, 枯枝鲶

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A very slim, stick-like armoured catfish with a long pointed snout and brown colouring broken up by a darker net-like pattern and side stripes, so it looks just like a twig. Keepers like its odd shape, its calm nature and the way it quietly grazes algae off wood, glass and leaves.

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: algae, blanched vegetables, algae wafers and biofilm on driftwood

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin: Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil

Breeding

Females lay eggs on the glass or on smooth wood, and the male guards them until they hatch after about a week. It has been bred in home aquariums, but the fry need lots of fine algae and soft foods, so raising them takes some work.

Good to know

Needs a mature tank with plenty of algae and driftwood, and clean, well-oxygenated water, otherwise it may starve or decline. Keep it away from boisterous or nippy tankmates that outcompete it for food.