Twig Catfish (Farlowella)
Farlowella acus
The Twig Catfish (Farlowella acus) is a living masterpiece of evolutionary mimicry. Belonging to the loricariid family (the 'sucker' fish), it has an exaggeratedly thin, thread-like and rigid body, extended by a very long rostrum on the snout, which makes it look exactly like a twig or a small wooden stick dropped in the water. This very particular species (which reaches 15-20 cm / 6-8 inches) spends its entire existence motionless clinging vertically or diagonally to submerged wood or the stems of tall marsh plants, blending perfectly with the environment. In addition to its bizarre appearance, it is a fish of extreme and notorious fragility in captivity, destined solely for dedicated fishkeepers and specialized tanks.
Température de l’eau
24 - 26 °C
Valeur du pH
6 - 7
Type d'eau
Eau douce
Niveau dans le bac
Fond et milieu
Taille adulte
20 cm
Volume minimal du bac
>= 120 L
Groupe minimal
>= 2
GH
2 - 10 dGH
KH
1 - 5 dKH
TDS
40 - 200 ppm
Conductivité
63 - 313 uS/cm
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the Orinoco river basin and the Amazon. Prefers slow, clear and shallow waters, rich in oxygen, where it spends its life camouflaged among submerged roots and the branches of fallen trees.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Twig Catfish (Farlowella, Loricariidae family). Incredible example of cryptic mimicry: the body is very long, rigid and brown, indistinguishable from a dry twig. The snout extends into a very thin rostrum. Reaches 20 cm (8 inches).
Social Behavior: Extremely shy, and peaceful. Spends entire days perfectly motionless attached to the glass or, preferably, vertically on the woods. Moves only at dusk or if disturbed. Totally inoffensive.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Faded olive-brown coloring along the back and light belly, crossed by two narrow longitudinal dark bands. Adult males develop odontodes (small fleshy "spines" or "hairs") arranged in two rows along the sides of the snout.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Aquarium Setup: Well-established aquariums required (minimum 100 liters / 25 gallons) with dense vegetation (Vallisneria, Echinodorus) and countless intertwined branches that rise vertically, essential to make them feel safe. Very well oxygenated and filtered water without excessive turbulence.
Diet and Feeding: Strictly herbivorous and algae-eating. Incessantly scrapes biofilm, tender green algae and diatoms from the glass and woods. Given the scarcity of natural food in the aquarium, it MUST be fed daily with boiled zucchini, spinach and spirulina wafers.
Water Quality: Very sensitive to pollution and chemistry. Requires soft (GH 2-10) and acidic (pH 6.0-7.0) waters at 24-26°C (75-79°F). Nitrates must be tending to zero. The drop in oxygen or thermal shocks lead to certain and sudden death.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Ultra-delicate fish, suitable only for very calm Amazonian community tanks with small Characins (Neons, Cardinals), dwarf Corydoras and Apistogramma. Any restless, fast or vaguely aggressive fish will condemn it to death by starvation by stealing its food.
Aquarium Breeding: Difficult but possible. They lay their eggs (amber or green colored) in small clusters on the aquarium glass or on broad leaves, usually at night. The male will assiduously guard and clean the clutch until hatching (about a week).
Risks and Diseases: The main risk is wasting and death from starvation: they have a very long intestine that can never remain empty. They are the first target of chemical fluctuations. Beware of the net: their armored scales get tangled easily breaking the long snout.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Native to the Orinoco river basin and the Amazon. Prefers slow, clear and shallow waters, rich in oxygen, where it spends its life camouflaged among submerged roots and the branches of fallen trees.
Origine
Océans tropicaux et récifsAmazonie, Orénoque et Guyanes
Profil de poisson
- Tempérament
- Peaceful
- They are exceedingly peaceful, shy, and highly cryptic fish that rely completely on their camouflage. They are easily stressed by boisterous tank mates and will simply refuse to eat if intimidated. A quiet, heavily planted aquarium allows their fascinating natural behaviors to shine.
- Régime alimentaire
- Herbivore
- They are specialized herbivores that constantly graze on soft green algae and biofilm on surfaces. Their diet must be heavily supplemented with high-quality sinking algae wafers and fresh blanched vegetables like zucchini. They do not do well on high-protein, meaty diets which can cause digestive issues.
- Espérance de vie
- 5-15 years
- Taille adulte
- 20 cm
- Ratio des sexes
- Group
- They are entirely peaceful with conspecifics and can be kept singly or in small groups without issue. In a group, a ratio of one male to two females is ideal if breeding is desired. Multiple males will rarely fight, but a larger tank is required to provide enough grazing territory.
- Fréquence d'alimentation
- Continuous
- Since they are slow, methodical grazers, food should be available to them continuously. Offer fresh vegetables or sinking wafers right before lights out to ensure they get enough to eat. Removing uneaten vegetables the next day is necessary to maintain water quality.
- Charge biologique
- Low
- The Twig catfish produces a relatively low bioload compared to other similarly sized plecos. However, they are highly sensitive to poor water quality and nitrate buildup. Excellent biological filtration and strict, regular water changes are absolutely crucial for their long-term survival.
- Courant
- Strong
- They originate from slow to moderately flowing rivers in South America with high oxygen levels. They deeply appreciate a gentle but steady current across the bottom of the tank. Highly oxygenated water is vital, so the use of an air stone or gentle powerhead is recommended.
- Risque de saut
- No
- Reproduction
- Egg scatterer
- Captive breeding is possible and often occurs naturally in well-maintained, peaceful setups. The male will meticulously clean a flat surface, often the aquarium glass, where the female deposits eggs. The male then valiantly guards and fans the eggs until they hatch several days later.
- Compatibilité et compagnons
- Verify
- They are incredibly peaceful, delicate, and easily outcompeted for food by faster bottom-dwellers. They must be housed with exceptionally peaceful, small nano-fish like ember tetras or dwarf corydoras. Never keep them with aggressive cichlids, large loaches, or any fin-nipping species.
- Niveau dans le bac
- Middle/Bottom
- They are strictly bottom and lower-middle dwellers, spending their time mimicking sticks on driftwood or plant stems. You will rarely see them swimming in the open water column unless deeply startled. Providing abundant vertical driftwood and large-leaved plants is essential for their comfort.
Modèles et paramètres scientifiques
FishBase
Fenêtre sur les données scientifiques officielles de l’espèce
FishBase v25.04Données synchronisées le : 15/06/2026
- Niveau trophique
- 2,5 ± 0,2 se
- Résilience
- Faible (4,5 - 14 ans)
- Singularité phylogénétique (PD50)
- 0.5
- Relation bayésienne longueur-poids
- a = 0.00398, b = 3.11
- VulnérabilitéVulnérabilité faible (10 / 100)
Galerie d'images
Images sous licence liées à l'espèce ou, lorsqu'elles sont indiquées, au taxon représentatif le plus proche.
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