Striped Twig Catfish (Farlowella vittata) Care Guide

Farlowella vittata is a twig catfish from Colombia and Venezuela, a peaceful, plant-safe algae grazer with a slender stick-like body needing mature, planted tanks.

Overview

Farlowella vittata is a twig catfish of the family Loricariidae (subfamily Loricariinae). Its body is extremely slender and elongated, resembling a thin stick of wood, with two dark stripes running from the rostrum through the eyes to the tail. Seriously Fish reports a size of about 15 cm.

Taxonomy

Family: Loricariidae
Scientific name: Farlowella vittata
Subfamily: Loricariinae
Common synonyms: Banded Twig Catfish

Habitat

The species inhabits Colombia and Venezuela. It is a limnovore that depends on surfaces rich in algae and biofilm, so well-planted, mature aquaria with submerged wood best supply its food and reflect its natural setting.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 120 L (32 gal)
Adult size: 15-17 cm (5.9-6.7 in)
Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
pH: 6-7.2
GH: 2-10 °dGH
Lifespan: 8-12 years

Diet

Farlowella vittata is primarily vegetarian. Most of the diet should be vegetable matter, fresh (cucumber slices, kale, blanched spinach) and dried (algae wafers, spirulina tablets). It grazes diatoms and common green algae continually but ignores tougher brush or beard algae; small live or frozen foods are taken only occasionally.

Compatibility

It is described as very peaceful but unsuitable for the general community because of its specialised feeding needs. Calm, slow tankmates are appropriate. Males can be territorial toward one another but rarely cause damage.

Breeding

Spawning takes place at night, with eggs deposited on vertical surfaces; the male tends them and they hatch in around 6-10 days. Males are sexed by a broader rostrum that develops rows of odontodes with maturity, which are absent in females. Fry are notoriously difficult to raise, requiring constant access to soft vegetable matter.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List assessed the species as Least Concern.