Twig catfish

Twig catfish

The twig catfish (aka Farlowella catfish) is a freshwater species that gets its name from the obvious resemblance to a thin stick. The Farlowella name is actually the genus, but it’s used as a catch-all term to describe this fish.

Out of the 35+ species in the Farlowella genus, you only see two of them in the aquarium scene. These are Farlowella acus and Farlowella vittata.

These fish are found in a multitude of areas throughout South America with the highest density being in Columbia and Venezuela. Some of the specific bodies of water they live in are Lake Valencia as well as the Amazon and Orinoco rivers.

Twig catfish prefer waters with a LOT of plants in them. These serve as places to hide and attach themselves to by using their suckermouths. There is also a lot of algae and nutrients that can be found on these plants as well.

They also like to attach themselves to various pieces of wood (which are also present in their native waters). Twig catfish love to nibble on wood and biofilm for fuel while staying relatively still most of the day.

The average twig catfish lifespan is somewhere between 10 and 12 years. Because of their laid-back lifestyle, it’s easy to see why they can live for quite a while!

This lifespan is dependant on the quality of care they receive, with the tank conditions being the primary factor here. If you want to have your Farlowella catfish around as long as possible you need to make sure their habitat is optimal.

The appearance of this species is very… twig-like.

They’re long and thin and can very easily be mistaken for a tiny stick if you don’t know what you’re looking for. This is a very effective defense mechanism that has allowed the species to survive for ages.

The nose of this fish is long and skinny. The head is the widest part of their body and begins to taper down gradually and consistently behind their eyes (around where their pectoral fins are located).

They have thin and mostly clear pectoral and anal fins that stick out to the side of their body when they’re laying on a surface (which they often are). They almost look like the wings on a dragonfly!

Twig catfish are mostly light brown in coloration with a darker brown line that runs down their sides. This line gets thinner and lighter the closer it gets to the end of their tail.

You’ll notice that the scales on the Farlowella give them a very prehistoric and textured look. It really adds a lot to their overall aesthetic appeal. They look like little ancient sticks that were scattered around the aquarium.

The average twig catfish size is 6 inches in length at most. Their size is impacted by genetic factors as well as the quality of care they receive when they’re young.

A lot of the time when you purchase these fish they’re already three to five inches in length. This means it’s usually a good idea to have an adult-sized tank ready for them from day one.

The recommended tank size for twig catfish is around 35 to 40 gallons. While you sometimes see owners saying they do fine in a smaller tank, we disagree.

As a matter of fact, we like to see these fish in a tank even larger than 40 gallons. This will allow them to have plenty of space to roam and make it a bit easier for you to maintain their very specific water parameters.

Obviously, if you plan on keeping a large number of these freshwater catfish in the same aquarium you’ll need to increase the tank size even more.

Water parameters are an area where Farlowella catfish care can get a bit tricker. These fish tend to be very sensitive to changes in water conditions or subpar water quality in general.

This means you need to have these numbers handy for your convenience. You’ll be spending a lot of time making sure everything stays consistent!

• Water temperature: 73°F to 79°F
• pH levels: 6.5 to 7.5
• Water hardness: Soft to hard

In the wild, twig catfish eat algae and biofilm that they find on the surface of wood and plants. This accumulates everywhere, and these fish are master scavengers!

In some instances they even eat the actual wood they’re nibbling on. This is something that is rarely found in fish anywhere, and it’s part of the reason why there’s a lot of confusion about what they eat.

In captivity, you’ll be feeding them a mixture of sinking plant-based pellets and vegetables. These fish aren’t picky, so you have a lot of options. Providing some consistency is recommended though. This will help you keep the conditions of the tank more stable and give them a dietary routine.