Farowella Info Needed

[LIflynn]

Hi everyone, went to the LFS yesterday and picked up a farowella. Hes in my 125 gallon tank i was just wondering what he requires. I hear they are very delicate does anyone know if this is true. And what would he eat? I threw in some cucumber pieces and blood worms but he doesn't really move around much i hope he eats if hes hungry i heard that they don't really like competing at all for food.

 

[roadmaster]

Algae wafers,spirulina pellets and some bog wood or driftwood to rasp on will help the fish .
Might keep offering the vegetables at night after lights are off and remove it in the morning.
These fish are largely herbivores so meaty foods,will not interest them nearly as much as vegetable based foods or algae based foods.

 

[LIflynn]

thanks

 

[LIflynn]

are they seem as very delicate fish?

 

[Wills]

Hi they are very delicate fish and hard to keep in an aquarium this is due to the lack of certain micro organisms they feast on in the wild and help with their digestion and are pretty much an essential part of their diet - for this reason very few Farlowella make it to adult hood in the aquariums.

Great looking fish though such a shame they are hard to keep properly. If you like this kind of fish have a look at whiptail catfish - very similar but much easier to care for and in your large tank you could probably look at some of the giant species that get upto about 18 inches or so but remain quite a slender fish.

I love whiptails They are a really underated fish but in my experience more beautiful than most plecs and much much much more active than plecs as well but quite similar behaviour as well

Wills

 

[fluttermoth]

I've bought two Farlowella over the years and lost each one after only a couple of weeks

I've got a Royal Whiptail now and she's done fine; beautiful fish; highly recommended!