Farlowella Catfish
Ranked #8,881 in Pets & Animals, #225,954 overall
What is a Farlowella Catfish?
"What's new?" I asked my local fish shop keeper.
"Oh, I just got in some really nice Farlowellas!" She replied.
She lifted up a fake plant and unceremoniously shook it until the little stick-like catfish abandoned their hiding place. Well I had to have one.
The Farlowella Catfish is also known as the Twig Catfish, resembling a piece of twig or a stick. They have a suckermouth and are fairly good at attacking your algae. There are several types of Farlowella: The most common are the Farlowella Acus and the Royal Farlowella. I have a Farlowella Acus.
"Oh, I just got in some really nice Farlowellas!" She replied.
She lifted up a fake plant and unceremoniously shook it until the little stick-like catfish abandoned their hiding place. Well I had to have one.
The Farlowella Catfish is also known as the Twig Catfish, resembling a piece of twig or a stick. They have a suckermouth and are fairly good at attacking your algae. There are several types of Farlowella: The most common are the Farlowella Acus and the Royal Farlowella. I have a Farlowella Acus.
Farlowella Video
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Caring For Your Farlowella
Not for the Novice or Beginner
Your Farlowella is primarily an algae eater. But don't depend on it eating nothing but algae. In fact, many Farlowellas don't make it in the novice tank if not fed a proper diet. Try feeding your Farlowella at night, as they tend to be shy and they do not compete with other fish for the food. Offer your Farlowella peas, a slice of cucumber or zuchinni, lettuce, spinach or
algae wafers.
You can buy a little
veggie clip at your local fish shop that you can clip the veggies to and the attach to the inside of the tank with a suction cup.

Farlowellas will sometimes eat the flake food that reaches the bottom and some frozen foods such as bloodworms. But this is not the best diet for them. Remember to not leave uneaten food in your tank as it will spoil and mess us your water chemical balance.

Your tank should have some
natural driftwood in it, as the Farlowella will "graze" upon the wood to help with it's digestion. Having some live plants will be beneficial as well. Farlowellas like some water movement in tank. Do not get a Farlowella for tanks less than 30 gallons.
These fish are sensitive to water conditions and do not do well with large and sudden water changes. A well filtered and mature tank is necessary to successfully keep this type of fish. They prefer a pH of 7 9neutral) or as close as you can get to that and a water temperature between 72 to 78 degrees F.
Here is my Farlowella "hanging around" on the back wall of the tank:
Farlowella and Bristlenose Pleco sharing a spot on the driftwood:
Buy a Farlowella Catfish:
Royal Farlowella

You can buy a little
These fish are sensitive to water conditions and do not do well with large and sudden water changes. A well filtered and mature tank is necessary to successfully keep this type of fish. They prefer a pH of 7 9neutral) or as close as you can get to that and a water temperature between 72 to 78 degrees F.
Here is my Farlowella "hanging around" on the back wall of the tank:
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Farlowella and Bristlenose Pleco sharing a spot on the driftwood:
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Buy a Farlowella Catfish:
Royal Farlowella
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JaguarJulie
Oct 23, 2008 @ 6:28 am | delete
- I think my hubby would know about them -- I think I've seen them, but never heard that name before. Interesting! I love Basa catfish.
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ArtByLinda Oct 6, 2008 @ 2:29 am | delete
- Great lens, they are very cool looking fish!
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stargazer00
Oct 5, 2008 @ 12:28 am | delete
- When I read the title I thought it was a catfish to eat! Now I am informed!
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mulberry
Oct 3, 2008 @ 6:44 pm | delete
- I recognize them but I never knew what they were. Your fishing expertise is growing!
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