Order Siluriformes
Family Loricariidae
Subfamily Loricariinae
Genus Farlowella
These catfish inhabit the northern and central parts of South America, found in large rivers and tiny forest streams. They are distributed in the Amazon basin in Brazil, Peru, Guyana, and Venezuela. Farlowella resemble the well-known Loricariids, but are significantly larger, with a more elongated body covered in a “mail” of scutes. A significant difference is the snout, which ends in a thin and long rostrum. The rostrum in the fish is thin, pointed towards the end, and curved upward.
Many species of them have been described; however, by appearance, it is difficult to distinguish fish with similar patterns, so one sometimes has to doubt even the captions under the photographs. Typical Farlowella most often include F. acus and F. gracilis. Farlowella acus has a straight, slightly tapering rostrum with a blunt end. In F. gracilis, the rostrum is longer, highly tapered, with a spherical thickening at the end, resembling a pom-pom on a hat.
Living conditions vary greatly: these are the white waters of Peru, Yarina-Cocha (hardness 11.4°, pH 6.9, temperature 32-34°C), clear waters of the Copal River (hardness 1°, pH 5.9, temperature 23°C), and “black” waters of Cuesto-Cocha (hardness 1.6°, pH 5.4, temperature 30°C). In an aquarium, they feel well at hardness 2-15°, pH 6.5-7.5, temperature 20-26°C. Aeration, filtration (preferably a biofilter), water movement, and water changes are necessary.
Shaded areas are needed in the aquarium. They are most active during evening and night hours. They can be kept with any peaceful fish, but if you are interested in breeding Farlowella, it is better not to add neighbors. Their favorite food is plant-based and to a lesser extent animal foods. Farlowella are flowing water fish, and stagnant processes are fatal to them.
While Loricariids scrape algae growth from stones and glass, Farlowella are completely indifferent to it. Food must be present in the aquarium constantly. Even short periods of starvation lead to the death of the fish. Driftwood on the bottom will not be superfluous – the fish actively clean it. Farlowella must not be chilled. This can happen if the fish are placed in water with a temperature of 20-21°C or if it is sharply reduced to 24°C.
Sick fish should not be treated with salt, nor do they accept antibiotics. Sick and “salted” fish lose coordination, tumble, and this is irreversible. Under unstable maintenance conditions, Farlowella are easily affected by Ichthyophthirius. The best medicine is warming the water to 28°C; trypaflavine can also be used. They reach maturity after a year and a half. They live 3-5 years in the aquarium.
— Twig Catfish, Whiptail Catfish — Farlowella acus [Kner, 1853]. Synonym: Acestra acus, Farlowella, Loricaria scolopacina. (Eng. Twig Catfish, Whiptail Catfish). Central and Southern Brazil, tributaries of the Amazon, La Plata, Paraguay rivers. 25 cm, in aquarium up to 14-16 cm. The body is elongated in length, almost round in cross-section, upper and ventral surfaces are covered with bony plates that overlap like tiles. Very long, thin caudal peduncle with flattening in the upper and lower parts.
Its body is covered with skin-bony plates. The snout ends in a long, top-to-bottom flattened, thin, slightly upward-curved outgrowth with a blunt end. Coloration is variable. The main body color is brownish-green to yellowish-brown, the body is covered with dark dots. Belly is whitish to yellowish. From the snout to the caudal fin along the side, there are vague dark, sometimes interrupted, longitudinal stripes that appear or disappear depending on the fish’s condition.
Fins are transparent, fin rays have brownish strokes. The upper and lower rays of the caudal fin are thread-like and elongated. Males are slimmer and have “brushes” on their “nose” during the breeding season. Females are fuller and paler colored. Males fight over territories, after which a hierarchy is established, and the strong one prevents others from feeding. It differs from F. vittata by a shorter and wider rostrum.
They stay in the lower water layer, peaceful towards other fish species, conflicts sometimes arise only between males. They become active during twilight and night hours. Fish constantly hide in shelters or dense plants. They often hang vertically on leaves and driftwood. They can only be seen when eating food. They do not swim, but crawl from place to place. These are not very sociable fish, a small group of three individuals is quite sufficient. You can keep 1 pair in a general aquarium. If there are several males, then at least 50 liters of water per male.
They poorly tolerate changes in water parameters. The stability of physical and chemical water parameters is vital for maintaining health. They love a strong current. They prefer transparent, clean water rich in oxygen. Water must be aerated, filtered, and partially replaced with fresh water weekly. Lighting should preferably be weak, because under bright light fish will constantly look for a shaded place.
Substrate should be fine dark sand without sharp edges that could damage the mouth apparatus, causing infection. Vegetation and necessarily driftwood are needed to obtain ballast and cellulose necessary for digestion. Vegetation is important as it serves as a refuge for them. They do not damage plants. Fish sometimes jump out of the water.
The smallest live organisms, food tablets, plant food are suitable as food, and they also eagerly eat algae. To diversify their diet, you can give fresh lettuce, spinach, green peas, sliced pieces of potato. When searching for food, Farlowella digs in the substrate, raising plant roots and bottom mud. In this regard, it is necessary to take care of plants by strengthening their roots from above with small stones. These fish endure the acclimatization period with difficulty. Very sensitive to medications and nitrates. Sick fish should not be treated with salt and antibiotics. They mature at one and a half years. They live 6 years. pH 6.0-7.5; dH 2-17°; T 22-27°C.
Differences between Farlowella gracilis and Farlowella acus.
— Slender Farlowella — Farlowella gracilis [Regan, 1904]. Brazil, Caqueta and Cauca rivers in southern Colombia. 20 cm. The body is very thin and elongated. The caudal peduncle is long and very thin, ending in elongated upper and lower lobes. The rostrum is longer, highly tapered, with a spherical thickening at the end like a pom-pom on a hat. The back is gray, sides are decorated with vague spots, belly is gray or yellowish.
Beige or dark brown with a dark stripe (which, depending on the fish’s condition, either stands out contrastingly or almost completely merges with the general body background) from the tip of the highly elongated snout to the tail lobes, the outer rays of which are thread-like and very long. The remaining fins are large, highly developed, triangular in shape with a small number of brownish spots. The female is fuller and paler than the male.
Maximum activity occurs in the evening and night hours, when Farlowella intensively begin to feed; the rest of the time they try to stay in the area of filters or pumps, holding on to the current with a sucker. During maintenance, there should be no interruptions in feeding; a tucked belly in fish is a very bad sign. Bloodworms should not be given; to stimulate spawning, it is advisable to add plant supplements.
The presence of excess nitrates and nitrites in the water very negatively affects the fish, especially the fry. Sick fish should not be treated with salt, nor do they accept antibiotics. Under unstable maintenance conditions, Farlowella are easily affected by Ichthyophthiriasis. The best medicine is warming the water to 28°C.
Matures in 1.5-2 years. Farlowella lay eggs on the aquarium walls in the form of a compact cake or an elongated chain. The male, attaching to the glass with his mouth sucker, guards the clutch, fanning it with his fins. By two months, the fish reach 4-5 centimeters and switch to the adult fish diet. pH 6.5-7.0; T 24-28°C.
Identification: Farlowella — Farlowella acus, gracilis.
Farlowella amazonum, mariaelenae, oxyrryncha, vittata.
Genus Dasyloricaria, Genus Hemiodontichthys, Genus Pterosturisoma, Genus Sturisomatichthys. 
