![]() This species is best kept by intermediate or above hobbyists with established community aquariums, planted aquariums or Amazon river biotope setups. While many suckermouth catfish species have yet to be bred on any major scale in aquariums, the Royal Farlowella has been bred by a few farms. Twig catfish, named due to their resemblance to twigs, are found throughout the Amazon, Orinoco and Panara rivers, as well as rivers of the Guyana Shield. Tank mates should include peaceful community fish species (tetras, barbs, gourami, danios, cory cats, loaches) and smaller more peaceful Cichlid species (convicts, firemouths, rainbows, angelfish, smaller catfish). The Royal Farlowella ( Sturisoma panamense ), also known as the Twig or Whiptail Catfish, is a member of the Loricariidae family of South American suckermouth catfishes. Ideally submerged root, driftwood, rocks and plants should be provided to create a more natural habitat and provide additional places for the Longnose Twig Catfish to feed on algae. The Twig Catfish gets its name from its very close resemblance to a twig or stick. The Twig Catfish is most dense in Colombia and Venezuela, and lives in large numbers in Lake Valencia, the Amazon River, and the Orinoco River. Hobbyists should look to replicate these water conditions by providing additional dissolved oxygen and water flow via strong filtration water returns or power heads. The Twig Catfish, known by its scientific name Farlowella vittata, is a freshwater catfish species most commonly found in South America. Fish species originating from river habitats are typically used to clean, highly oxygenated waters and a good amount of water currents. There is generally little aggression or territoriality shown in this species, so a large group can be kept if adequately fed, and, given some time, they will eventually lay eggs and bring forth into the world more little twigs.The native tropical river habitat of the Longnose Twig Catfish consists of slowly moving waters that typically have a sandy or mixed rock and sand substrate with submerged tree root and vegetation near the river banks. vittata can be found in the vast Orinoco river basin of Colombia and Venezuela, where it is typically found along the submerged roots and dead leaves along the riverbanks.įor those looking to breed their Farlowella, the sexes can be readily identified due to the broader snout of males, which is covered in short protuberances called “odontodes”. acus, which is actually rarely seen and considered to be quite uncommon in the wild. vittata, though it’s not uncommon to see these mistaken for a very similar species, F. Most specimens seen in the aquarium trade are captive bred and belong to the species F. Decorating with larger rocks and driftwood is also an excellent way to provide natural grazing opportunities and will help your Twig Catfish feel at home. ![]() Habitat Inhabits areas of submerged vegetation, dead leaves and sticks or tangled roots along the banks of gently flowing streams and rivers. The best way to avoid this is to regularly offer sinking algae wafers and fresh greens (zucchini, spinach, lettuce). The Twig Catfish, known by its scientific name Farlowella vittata, is a freshwater catfish species most commonly found in South America. Type locality: A tributary of Ro Uribanto Uribante, Tachira State, Venezuela. If there is no algae or leftover food present, supplement with high-quality flake food, sinking carnivore pellets, freeze-dried bloodworms, and tubifex. They actively feed off the bottom of the aquarium, they get most of their nutrition from leftover food, decaying plants, and algae. If placed into a clean aquarium, particularly smaller tanks that already house other algae eaters, it’s not uncommon for Farlowella to get outcompeted for food and slowly starve. Twig catfish are omnivores scavengers and are not a picky eater. In fact, one of the challenges of keeping this fish is ensuring that it has enough food to eat. If you purchase a Farlowella hoping to see them eliminate all the algae in your aquarium, prepare to be disappointed. Twig Catfishes also make a living rasping algae off of rocks and wood, but, in an aquarium setting, they are nowhere near as prolific at this task as their bulkier relatives. This diverse group of primarily South American fishes are well-known to aquarists for the many algae-eating species commonly available, such as the Common Pleco and the Bristlenose Pleco. These masters of mimicry have transformed their bodies so as to perfectly appear like a small, broken twig, and, whether it’s in their natural habitat of slow-moving stream banks or in an aquarium decorated with driftwood and live plants, they are remarkably adept at disappearing into their surroundings, blending in with the background as they go about their innocuous lives.įarlowella belongs to the diverse family of armored catfishes known as the Loricariidae. For fans of cryptic, camouflaged fishes, there’s a lot to like about the Twig Catfishes of the genus Farlowella.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |