Farlowella Pleco or Whiptail Cat

a.k.a. Twig Cat

Size: up to 6" pH: 6.5 - 7.2 KH: 4 to 8 Temp: 73-79F Origin: Venezuela

Food: Scavenger: Algae on Glass, Plants Rocks and Wood. Supplement with Algae Discs

This picture shows an animal resembling a twig or stick and it is now sadly a forgotten "pleco" with the onslaught of the L-numbers in the last decade relegating this once sought after catfish.

Farlowella acus is a native of Venezuela and some records show areas of Colombia and Brazil but they may have been specimens of other species of Farowella such as F.gracilis or F.gladiola. This is a very calm community fish that is olive-green to yellow-brown, with the underside yellowish. Twig cats have a very distinct irregular dark band, often beset with blotches that extends from the head to the root of the tail. Fins are transparent and the rays with dark spots. Each caudal lobe has a dark band. They are mostly vegetarians with algae being their number one source of food for adults and young fry so the above mentioned food should suffice if no algae is available. This is a relatively easy fish to keep and breed as long as you do not partake in huge water changes as this will upset this fish. They prefer smaller water changes and only a little at a time. This fish will do best in a heavily planted aquarium.

Size at shipping: vary about 3" - 4"+. SHIPS GREAT!