All fish / Loricariidae

Rough Twig Catfish

Farlowella rugosa

Also known as twig catfish, rugose twig catfish, stick catfish, farlowella, whiptail catfish, farlowella sp., ファルロウェラ・ルゴサ, 小精灵鲶, 枯枝鲶

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This is a very thin, stick-shaped armoured catfish with a long snout, a brown body with a dark stripe running along each side, and long filaments on the tail. People keep it because it looks just like a twig and grazes algae calmly in planted tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

18 cm

Temperature

23 to 27 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Singly, in a pair or a small group

Diet

Herbivore: algae and biofilm, plus sinking algae wafers, blanched courgette, spinach and cucumber

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Orinoco basin and coastal rivers of Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname

Breeding

Females lay eggs on the glass or on smooth surfaces in the current, and the male guards them until they hatch after about a week. Spawning does happen in mature, well-fed tanks, but the fry are hard to raise because they need a constant supply of algae and biofilm.

Good to know

It is easily stressed and can starve, so it needs a well-established tank with plenty of biofilm, clean, well-oxygenated water and calm tankmates. Fast or boisterous fish will outcompete it for food.