Farlowella Acus

[JezzaBeadle]

Hi,

Whilst visiting a fish shop yesterday I spotted some fish that were labelled as Whiptail Twig Catfish. I fell in love with them, and after doing a bit of research online, from what I could remember of their appearance I think they're Farlowella Acus. Of course I could be wrong, but they really do look very similar. I'm currently planning what to have in a new 120 litre tank and I'd love to have one or two. As tankmates I've been thinking of a couple of rams and maybe some hatchetfish. What I'd like to know is if a Farlowella Acus would be fine in a 120 litre tank. I mean, on some websites I've read their maximum size is 4/5 inches, whilst on others it says 8/9! And, if they wouldn't get too big for my tank, do they prefer to be kept in pairs, or are they fine on their own? I've read that having two males would be very bad, resulting in the death of one, probably the smallest. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Bloo]

They'll be just fine with those occupants and size tank

Here's a profile I did on them that might help you. F. Vittata & F. Acus requirements / needs are the same.

Be aware of two things in particular - they do not tolerate a "new" tank well & in general are sensitive fish.

They do not compete for food and cannot be kept with aggressive greedy eaters - and will require sinking wafers now and again.

 

[JezzaBeadle]

Thanks very much, that's really helpful. Yeah, whilst I was doing some research the other day I read that because they eat mostly algae (aswell as some other veggies and things) that they need a nice mature tank with lots of algae for them to feed on. So I'll be sure to keep my tank running for quite a while before I buy any. I'm very glad they'll be ok in that size tank, I think they're absolutely gorrrrrrrgeous! Thanks very much.

 

[eekbh]

Hi,

Whilst visiting a fish shop yesterday I spotted some fish that were labelled as Whiptail Twig Catfish. I fell in love with them,

Hello
Just wanted to give you our experience with one. It was great. We loved it.

I had one of those and loved it. I used to feed it algae wafers and it was happy. Most of the time it would be stuck on the filter intake tube. When it swam, it was almost stiff and not very flexible. Great to watch. When I'd do a water change, it's head would be out of the water for a while, didn't seem to mind much. He'd just slink back down below water level when he felt like it. My kids named him "stick bug"---why? I don't know.....they were young then I guess.


We had one problem with SILK PLANTS though. I got up one morning to find a thread from a plant wrapped around his nose very tightly. I had to reach in and hold him while unravelling it. His nose is very sticky too.

Good luck !

---eekbh