Lfs Had A Weird Fish In Today.

[DevUK]

Hey all. I was in my LFS today to get fish for my new tank and they had 2 of these really cool, yet weird looking fish. I quickly did a search on google using my mobile (the wonders of GPRS) and got some vague info about their needs.

Its possibly the strangest fish I've seen in the flesh (or scales perhaps!). It was called a Farlowella and is shaped like a twig. Anyone ever had any experience of these?

I was quite tempted by one, but not knowing anything about them I figured I shouldn't buy on spur of the moment!

 

[poopsydrew]

Havent owned them but my lfs has them in all the time. I could be wrong but I think they are also called a twig or stickfish because of their shape. The only thing i remeber reading about them is they are not very active and hide during the day. Cool looking fish though, you thinking about getting it?

Drew

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Badman's tropical fish has a good profile on them;

http/badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile57.html

And planetcatfish;

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=777



Farlowella's are very endangered fish, according to plantecatfish they say this fish could go extinct in the next 20 years, it has never been bred in captivity. Personally i wouldn't buy them unless you want to study them thoroughly and try and do some sort of breeding project to help save this fish etc.

 

[DevUK]

Badman's tropical fish has a good profile on them;

http/badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile57.html

And planetcatfish;

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...?species_id=777



Farlowella's are very endangered fish, according to plantecatfish they say this fish could go extinct in the next 20 years, it has never been bred in captivity. Personally i wouldn't buy them unless you want to study them thoroughly and try and do some sort of breeding project to help save this fish etc.

I'd read Badman's profile when I got home. Glad I didn't give into temptation Seems they need a lot of horizontal twig/woody bits. Seems they also rasp the wood and eat it to help digestion.

They did look interesting, but I was also sure that I'd have problem with my CAE. I'm generally avoiding bottom feeders at the moment.

 

[Animalman]

They are very interesting fish and I actually did own one before. They have them in my LFS a lot and I have also heard/had experience with them in that they are usually hiding during the day but can be very interesting to watch. Mine would move all over the tank sometimes and he was very nice and got along with all the other fish and visa versa. At that time when I was much younger, I didn't know all that I do now and so he didn't live for too long. It was around a year I believe. I would have to say that I agree with Tokis-Phoenix on if you should buy one or not. Just my two cents.

Also, I think it is very good that you didn't impulse buy. I know it can be hard because just today when I was taking my cats, which we have to give up because we are moving, I just wanted to look at the fish quickly and I saw a beautiful purple betta male in a small container and I was very tempted to get him but I decided not to. It would feel wrong to buy that at the same time I was giving up my cats anyway. I need a little break in between pets.

 

[Rex740]

I HAVE ONE!!!!!!!!!! He is in my 48 gallon. i absolutely love them!!! They are EXTREMELY hardy fish despite what websites say!

I dont even have any plants in my tank and my farlowella is very happy!

 

[DevUK]

I HAVE ONE!!!!!!!!!! He is in my 48 gallon. i absolutely love them!!! They are EXTREMELY hardy fish despite what websites say!

I dont even have any plants in my tank and my farlowella is very happy!

Cool

I was just intrigued about them when I saw them. So different from the norm!

 

[Danno]

Just another catfish!

 

[DevUK]

Just another catfish!

hehe, maybe so, but one thats been pinched at the nose and tail, and stretched

They also had some ghost glass catfish. Those were pretty freaky looking too, but then, I find most transparent fish a little freaky

 

[Night Crawler]

I have never seen them before until a couple of days ago. I went into 2 different places near where I live and both of them had them farlowella thingies
As for the glass cats, I have had 2 for about 7 or 8 months and they are pretty cool to watch. So freaky how all their organs are stored in around the head and theres almost nothing after that appart from bones and... Well, im not to sure realy because its almost completly clear.