Twig Catfish (Farlowella acus) Care Guide
A remarkably elongated catfish that perfectly mimics a twig or stick in the aquarium. Its extremely slender body with a long, pointed snout allows it to blend in among branches.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Farlowella acus is a species in the family Loricariidae. A remarkably elongated catfish that perfectly mimics a twig or stick in the aquarium. Its extremely slender body with a long, pointed snout allows it to blend in among branches. An excellent algae grazer that requires stable, well-oxygenated water.
Taxonomy
- Family: Loricariidae
- Genus: Farlowella
- Scientific name: Farlowella acus
- Other names: Farlowella Catfish, Stick Catfish
- Origin: South America, Venezuela, Colombia
Habitat
Farlowella acus is a slender, twig-like loricariid catfish from rivers and streams of Venezuela and Colombia in South America. It clings to wood and stems, grazing algae and biofilm, and relies on driftwood and a steady food supply of soft algae.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L
- Temperature: 22-27 °C
- pH: 6-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Water flow: moderate
- Adult size: 12-15 cm
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
- Difficulty: intermediate
Diet
Classified as herbivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 1x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.
Compatibility
- Temperament: peaceful
- Position in tank: bottom
- Compatible tank mates: Neon Tetra, Corydoras, Cherry Shrimp, Otocinclus
- Avoid with: Large Cichlids, Aggressive Fish, Plecostomus
Breeding
- Breeding strategy: egg-depositor
- Breeding difficulty: advanced
Twig Catfish (Farlowella acus) Breeding Guide
Overview
Farlowella acus is a slender, herbivorous loricariid catfish from South America that requires stable, well-oxygenated water. It is an egg layer in which the male guards the eggs, and the fry are notoriously difficult to raise because they are prone to starvation.
Sexing
Males develop a broader snout, and as they mature the rostrum becomes covered in rows of small bristles called odontodes; the females' thinner snouts remain smooth at all times.
Conditioning
Because the species is strongly herbivorous, achieving proper nutritional balance is challenging; condition the fish on algae and vegetable-based foods. Naturally, spawning occurs between November and March, but well-conditioned captive fish can be induced to breed at any time.
Breeding Setup
Provide hard vertical surfaces, very often the aquarium glass, where the male can clean a site for egg deposition. Starting with a group of six or more juveniles helps secure a compatible pair.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The male cleans a hard surface and the female lays her eggs there at night or in the early morning, almost always on a vertical surface. The female normally lays a clutch of about 60 to 80 eggs, and the male may be visited by additional females who add their eggs to the existing brood.
Egg & Fry Care
The male tends the eggs with his mouth and by fanning them with his pectoral fins until they hatch in around six to ten days, depending on temperature. Newly hatched young attach to surfaces near where they hatched and absorb a small yolk sac within days, after which they need constant access to soft vegetable matter such as pre-softened kale and spinach, plus algae grown on rocks.
Common Challenges
The fry are particularly susceptible to starvation and are notoriously difficult to raise, so providing a steady supply of suitable soft vegetable food and maintaining stable water are the central difficulties.