Order Siluriformes
Family Loricariidae
Subfamily Loricariinae
Genus Farlowella
— Amazon Whiptail — Farlowella amazonum [Gunther, 1864]. Synonym: Acestra amazonum, gladiolus, Farlowella amazona, carinata, gladiolus, oliveirae, paranaense, pleurotaenia, pseudogladiolus. Amazon River. 20 cm. In the male ready for spawning, short odontodes appear on the sides of the rostrum.
Long-term maintenance in water with high nitrate content negatively affects the condition of the fish. Good oxygen regime is required. They react positively to current. Peaceful. Should not be kept with more active algae-eaters such as Ancistrus or Sturisoma, nor with large aggressive fish. pH 6.0-7.2; T 23-28°C; dH 2-10°.
— Farlowella — Farlowella mariaelenae [Salazar, 1964]. Colombia, Venezuela. Orinoco and Amazon Rivers. 22 cm. Very elongated and slender body. Body of variable brown coloration, each successive section slightly darker. Snout of very dark tones, almost black, with two horizontal lines extending from it, passing through the eyes and beyond the dorsal fin. These lines, practically straight, have an upper serrated edge at the base of the dorsal fin.
Pectoral, pelvic, and dorsal fins feature banded spots. Belly coloration is uniform and pale. In the male ready for spawning, thick odontodes appear on the sides of the rostrum. Unlike Farlowella vittata, Farlowella mariaelenae has a thinner rostrum and three rows of scutes on the belly, compared to two in F. vittata.
Aquarium with rich vegetation and driftwood, sand substrate. Very peaceful, active at twilight and night, compatible with any non-aggressive tankmates. Somewhat territorial with its own species. Water must be very clean and oxygen-rich. Feeds on algae, especially brown and green. Eats live, frozen, and dry foods, as well as fresh vegetables. pH 6.4-7.8; T 24-29°C.
— Farlowella oxyrryncha — Farlowella oxyrryncha [Kner, 1854]. Synonym: Acestra gladius, oxyrryncha, Farlowella gladius. Orinoco and Amazon Rivers. 22 cm. Fins are transparent but with irregular dark spots. Sudden changes in physicochemical water properties should be avoided. Sensitive to elevated nitrates and require very clean water. Regular partial water changes are the best way to prevent fish health issues and environmental degradation. Temperature should not drop below 25°C. pH 6.0-7.2.
— Twig Catfish — Farlowella vittata [Myers, 1942]. Synonym: Farlowella agustini, angosturae, guaricensis, roncallii. Colombia, Venezuela. 15 cm, with filament-like extensions of the caudal fin reaching about 22 cm. Along the sides, beneath the skin, lie more than 30 bony plates arranged in a single line. Convex eyes are equipped with protective membranes used to regulate the passage of sunlight.
Coloration is variable. Viewed from above, the fish ranges from brown to brownish from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. Sides range from olive-green to nut-yellowish. A long dark stripe extends from the end of the head to the caudal peduncle. Belly is pale white with a slight yellowish tint. Pectoral, dorsal, and anal fins are semi-transparent, repeating the body color. Caudal fin is darker, with two filament-like extensions at the ends of the lobes.
In the male ready for spawning, short odontodes appear on the sides of the rostrum. The female has a thinner snout, which always remains smooth. Similar to F. acus, the easiest way to distinguish them is to compare the shape of the snout, which is longer and thinner in F. vittata.
Very peaceful, but unsuitable for a general community aquarium due to its rather specialized requirements; it requires mature water and can easily be outcompeted for food by more energetic or larger fish species. Prefers lower water levels. A fish that dislikes bright light and needs plenty of hiding places. Requires long-leaved vegetation and necessarily vertically positioned driftwood to obtain ballast and cellulose necessary for digestion.
They are slow-moving and camouflage hides them among plants and decorations. Should not be kept with more active algae-eaters such as Ancistrus or Sturisoma, nor with large aggressive fish. Adult males can be somewhat territorial, but fights resulting in injury are rare; they can be kept in a group of 4-5 individuals. Very sensitive to poor water conditions. Do not tolerate the addition of more than 25% fresh water and strong currents. The water must be well oxygenated.
In nature, they feed mainly on algae. In the aquarium, they have the same needs. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the presence of algae, supplemented by plant-based foods as dietary supplements – peeled vegetables (spinach, zucchini, cabbage leaves, lettuce, cucumber).
Under suitable conditions and with good nutrition, they breed easily. To select a pair, a group of 6 or more young fish should be kept. Fish spawn at night and almost always on a vertical surface (usually the aquarium glass). The male cares for the eggs, staying with them and fanning them with his fins. Lifespan is 8-10 years. pH 6.0-7.5; dH 3-10°; T 24-26°C.
Lamontichthys filamentosus, Lamontichthys llanero.
Farlowella acus, Farlowella gracilis. 
