Twig Catfish Tank MatesĬhoosing Twig Catfish tank mates can be a little challenging, given how shy and retiring they are.
75 to 82☏ is ideal for Twig Catfish Farlowella. Last, the water temperature should remain on the warm side. Sudden changes can result in death for these sensitive fish. If needed, gradually raising the pH or temperature is best. The dark water lowers light levels, helping the fish feel safer out in the open.Īny changes in water quality should be done carefully. It provides hiding places, a spot to graze on algae, and a source of tannins to keep the tank water acidic.Īnother advantage to keeping Twig Catfish in a blackwater tank is that they will hide less. They even thrive in blackwater aquarium conditions closer to pH 4.5, where decaying plant matter stains the water a dark tea color.Īquarium driftwood does triple duty here in a Twig Catfish tank. A pH below 7.0 is important for Twig Catfish health. Your tank water quality should lean towards acidic for these freshwater fish. As will most floating plants, including Red Root Floater and Duckweed. Discus aquarium plants will all do well in a Twig Catfish tank as they are all heat tolerant. Fortunately, Twig Catfish eat algae all the time, helping to keep your plants clean and healthy.Ĭhoose plants that thrive in the warm water that Twig Catfish need. If left unchecked this algae can compete with and harm your plants. Plants also provide grazing places since algae likes to grow on the surface of leaves. They also consume carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen in the process. Plants consume ammonia and other nitrogenous waste products as food.
TWIG CATFISH FULL
Here is one reason why Twig Catfish thrive in aquariums full of live plants. But in a home aquarium pollutants can build up without proper filtration or regular water changes. These pollutants measure close to or at 0 parts per million in their home rivers. So they are more sensitive than captive bred fish to ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Remember, the majority of Farlowella fish are wild-caught. The main reason why aquarists sometimes fail keeping Twig Catfish is due to their water quality needs. Bright lighting and a lack of hiding places will cause them severe stress. An aquarium that is 40 gallons or larger is a suitable home for a Royal Whiptail Catfish.ĭim light and a dark substrate will help them feel even more at ease. The Royal Farlowella Catfish ( Sturisoma panamense) can grow up to 8 inches long at maximum size, and needs a larger tank than its cousins. Therefore a 20 gallon fish tank is a minimum tank size for this species. An adult Farlowella Catfish will be between 4 and 6 inches, depending on the species. So long as you do, Twig Catfish are a good addition to planted aquariums. Be sure you do a little homework on their water quality needs and habits. As well as other fish that are peaceful and won’t harass them.
( Farlowella acus is the most common species)įarlowella Twig Catfish need flat surfaces for grazing excess algae and breeding. Common Names: Twig Catfish, Farlowella Catfish, Whiptail Catfish, Royal Farlowella Catfish.While they are vegetarian they won’t eat healthy plants.
TWIG CATFISH FREE
This trait makes them a favorite for aquascapers since they help keep plants free of algae and looking their best. Twig Catfish are delicate algae eaters and very gentle when cleaning plant leaves of accumulated matter. This way a Twig Catfish does not feel always exposed, stressing it. Since they have a shy and peaceful nature you should design your home aquarium with care. Tree debris falls into the water, allowing these unique fish to blend into the material and avoid predators. In their natural habitat in South America rivers flow through tropical rainforests. They have an elongated body meant to mimic twigs, submerged roots, and other river debris. Suckermouth catfish are all strange looking compared to other fish species but the Twig Catfish is even more unique. Their closest relatives are popular fish like Plecostomus, Dwarf Otocinclus, and Bristlenose Plecos. However Farlowella acus is the most common to find in aquarium stores.Īs members of the family Loricariidae, Twig Catfish are suckermouth catfish. There are several species in this group of freshwater fish. The natural habitat of Twig Catfish is South America in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Parana River basins. What else does it take to keep a twig catfish alive and healthy? What are Twig Catfish? They are a bit sensitive when it comes to water parameters and need to be fed with care, however. That would be a mistake since as one of the best algae eating fish species twig catfish are a great addition to community tanks of small fish. They look so exotic that you might be too intimidated to try keeping one. Twig Catfish (also known as Farlowella catfish) are one of the most unusual freshwater fish in the aquarium trade.
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