Twig catfish
Farlowella vittata
A slender 6-inch catfish that looks like a dry stick; slow, shy and easily outcompeted for food by livelier tank mates.
Key facts
- Body length
- 5.9 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 26 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Peaceful, shy
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Diet
- Algae wafers, blanched zucchini and spinach
- Origin
- Orinoco basin, Colombia and Venezuela
- Hardier than10%
- Bigger than73%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Twig catfish tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blue dolphin cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyFancy guppy outcompetes the slow-eating Twig catfish for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Twig catfish is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Amano shrimpAmano shrimp outcompetes the slow-eating Twig catfish for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater eats slow fish: Twig catfish (SF: присасывается к бокам крупных соседей, объедая слизь).Risky
- Clown loachClown loach outcompetes the slow-eating Twig catfish for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Common plecoAmazon sailfin catfish (common pleco) outcompetes the slow-eating Twig catfish for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Twig catfish: prey body depth 1.2 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Twig catfish: prey body depth 1.2 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- African clawed frogAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Marbled crayfishMarbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Redclaw crayfishRedclaw crayfish eats bottom fish: Twig catfish.Avoid
- AxolotlAxolotl should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for twig catfish: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 15 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 20.25 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 5.35 BU
- Min. water
- 81 L net
- Min. footprint
- 90 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 1+ (best 2)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- slender eel, normal fins
- Diet type
- herbivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: Seriously Fish: Farlowella vittata
Care notes
Twig catfish come from wood-filled streams of the Orinoco basin in Colombia and Venezuela. They cling motionless to branches and glass and graze the film that grows there, often after dark.
Give them a mature 20 gallon tank or larger with a 36-inch footprint, lots of branching wood and vegetable food. Only calm tank mates work: active fish take the food first and the twig catfish slowly starves.
Questions
What size tank does a twig catfish need?
At least 26 gallons (81 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 5.9 inches without fins.
How many twig catfish should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do twig catfish need?
75–81 °F, pH 6–7 and 3–10 dGH. Twig catfish come from Orinoco basin, Colombia and Venezuela.
How long do twig catfish live?
10–15 years with good care.
What fish can live with twig catfish?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Panda corydoras, Otocinclus and Cherry shrimp. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.