Farowella Cat

[jmann]

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Does anyone keep these? I saw one in the store today and liked the look of them. Just wanted to see if they were suitable for a 55 gallon community tank as far as tank mates for the angels and gouramis and corys that I have now.

 

[Bloo]

With the fish you currently have and your size tank, it would be a lovely home for one
They like "gentle" tank mates and nothing too big and busy around them.

Do be warned though that they are fairly delicate fish and don't take well to big changes in tanks - such as a major clean.

Also be aware that they will sometimes "play dead" and simply won't move out of the way (such as most other fish) when doing a gravel / sand vac.
Don't prod it - it might swim away in a fright and stub it's long nose. They are very ungainly and uncoordinated when trying to swim fast.
If you really absolutely have to: you can very gently pick the fish up (around the mid-section) and simply move it. When catching it, don't use a net - the male's bristles on his rostrum (nose) can get stuck in the net - and their long stiff bodies might get damaged.

They enjoy a variety of foods and algae wafers

Here are some of mine - my male died, so only the female left now.

 

[The-Wolf]

I'd just like to say that I made the mistake of puting Farowellas in with angels at work; came in one morning to find sores on some of the angels and noticed at least two Farowellas attached to the angels.

IME
not a good idea to keep the two species together.

 

[Bloo]

crikey that sounds horrid.

 

[andyj]

I've got one that I rescued from a friends tank

You're right in saying that they 'play dead' he hardly ever moves from 1 spot on the front glass of the tank!

Not experienced any difficulties with him, and he seems to have grown since I've had him.

He doesn't seem to have any problems competing for food etc, and he's got 4 Cories and 3 BN Plecs to compete with on the bottom of the tank!

Andy

 

[jmann]

Thanks for the replys. I'll give it a little more thought before I buy one. I have a friend who keeps one with angels with no problems. Not sure if I want to risk the angels though.