Care and Compatibility of Stick Catfish - Farlowella acus


Introduction

The Stick Catfish is known for its unique appearance that resembles a stick or branch. It has an elongated and slender body with a skin covered in small bumps. Its coloration ranges from brown to green, allowing them to blend in with aquatic plants. They have long and filamentous fins.

Behavior

The Stick Catfish, scientifically known as Farlowella acus, is a species of freshwater fish native to South America. It has an elongated and slender body that resembles a stick or branch, providing excellent camouflage in its environment. It is a peaceful fish and is commonly kept in community aquariums.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in Farlowella acus is minimal and difficult to distinguish. Both sexes have a similar appearance.

Reproduction

Breeding Stick Catfish in captivity can be challenging. Usually, a separate breeding tank and specific conditions are required to induce reproduction. During breeding, the female deposits eggs on a flat surface or on plant leaves. The parents do not provide parental care, and it may be necessary to separate the eggs to prevent them from being consumed by other fish.

Aquarium Conditions

Farlowella acus, commonly known as the twig catfish, requires a well-planted aquarium with abundant vegetation and rocks. It prefers soft to moderately hard water and a moderate temperature. Aquarium décor should include driftwood and branches for them to camouflage. Maintaining water quality is crucial and providing a varied diet.

Feeding

When it comes to feeding, the Stick Catfish is primarily herbivorous. It feeds on algae and detritus present in the aquarium, making them beneficial for algae control. They may also accept vegetable-based foods in the form of tablets or pellets. It is important to provide them with a balanced diet that includes suitable vegetable foods and supplemental feeding.

Complexity

Caring for Farlowella acus can be moderately challenging. They are peaceful fish but can be sensitive to water conditions and stress. They require a soft substrate to avoid damaging their barbels and should be kept in groups of at least three individuals. They are primarily herbivores and feed by scraping algae and biofilm from surfaces.


In case you need more help, or if you want to know into any topic related to the Farlowella acus (Stick Catfish) and even any other species you can use the forums to ask what you need.

To do an analysis more detailed about coexistence and behavior of Farlowella acus (Stick Catfish) use the Aquarium simulation tool, if you do this you can test different ways to combine the Stick Catfish with other fishes giving the dimensions and space on you aquarium, on this way you can known the optimal configuration for keep the fishes that you want.

You can also find out the 131 species compatible with the Farlowella acus (Stick Catfish) can live together.

Note: The parameters of the water such as PH and temperature are also used to calculate the compatibility of the species.


Compatible species (131)

Compatible (56 Species)

Compatible without any restriction


Suckermouth catfish - Hypostomus plecostomus

Suckermouth catfish

Hypostomus plecostomus

Sun Catfish - Horabagrus brachysoma

Sun Catfish

Horabagrus brachysoma

Bala Shark - Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Bala Shark

Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Mije Fish - Leporinus fasciatus

Mije Fish

Leporinus fasciatus

Clown Loach - Chromobotia macracanthus

Clown Loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

Pez Loro - Red Parrot

Pez Loro

Red Parrot

Gray bichir - Polypterus senegalus

Gray bichir

Polypterus senegalus

Archerfish - Toxotes jaculatrix

Archerfish

Toxotes jaculatrix

Green Terror - Andinoacara rivulatus

Green Terror

Andinoacara rivulatus

Comet Goldfish - Carassius auratus III

Comet Goldfish

Carassius auratus III

Galaxy Plecostomus - Leporacanthicus sp L240

Galaxy Plecostomus

Leporacanthicus sp L240

Blue Acara - Satanoperca daemon

Blue Acara

Satanoperca daemon

Suckermouth Catfish - Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Suckermouth Catfish

Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Striped Raphael Catfish - Platydoras costatus

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras costatus

Discus fish - Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Discus fish

Symphysodon aequifasciatus

Electric Blue Cichlid - Andinoacara pulcher

Electric Blue Cichlid

Andinoacara pulcher

False Discus - Heros severus

False Discus

Heros severus

Kissing Gourami - Helostoma temminckii

Kissing Gourami

Helostoma temminckii

Boeseman's Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia Boesemani

Boeseman's Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia Boesemani

Lemon Catfish - Hemiancistrus subviridis

Lemon Catfish

Hemiancistrus subviridis

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis eupterus

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis eupterus

Freshwater angelfish - Pterophyllum scalare

Freshwater angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Golden Royal Pleco - Sturisoma aureum

Golden Royal Pleco

Sturisoma aureum

Severum Cichlid - Heros efasciatus

Severum Cichlid

Heros efasciatus

Celestial eye goldfish - Carassius auratus V

Celestial eye goldfish

Carassius auratus V

Convict Cichlid - Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Convict Cichlid

Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Silver Dollar Fish - Metynnis argenteus

Silver Dollar Fish

Metynnis argenteus

Red-tailed Black Shark - Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Red-tailed Black Shark

Epalzeorhynchus frenatus

Denison Barb - Puntius denisonii

Denison Barb

Puntius denisonii

Flag Cichlid - Mesonauta festivus

Flag Cichlid

Mesonauta festivus

Firemouth Cichlid - Cichlasoma meeki

Firemouth Cichlid

Cichlasoma meeki

Siamese Algae Eater - Crossocheilus Siamensis

Siamese Algae Eater

Crossocheilus Siamensis

Jewel Cichlid - Hemichromis lifalili

Jewel Cichlid

Hemichromis lifalili

Pearl gourami - Trichogaster leerii

Pearl gourami

Trichogaster leerii

Coolie loach - Pangio kuhlii

Coolie loach

Pangio kuhlii

Leopard Cactus Pleco - Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Leopard Cactus Pleco

Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Bicolor Shark - Epalzeorhynchos bicolor

Bicolor Shark

Epalzeorhynchos bicolor

Paradise Fish - Macropodus Opercularis

Paradise Fish

Macropodus Opercularis

Empire Gudgeon - Hypseleotris compressa

Empire Gudgeon

Hypseleotris compressa

Neon Spot fish - Pseudotropheus elongatus chewere

Neon Spot fish

Pseudotropheus elongatus chewere

Butterfly Loach - Beaufortia leveretti

Butterfly Loach

Beaufortia leveretti

Kribensis Cichlid - Pelvicachromis pulcher

Kribensis Cichlid

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Cockatoo Cichlid - Apistogramma Cacatuoides

Cockatoo Cichlid

Apistogramma Cacatuoides

Agassiz's Apistogramma - Apistogramma Agassizii

Agassiz's Apistogramma

Apistogramma Agassizii

Male siamese fighting fish - betta splendens male

Male siamese fighting fish

betta splendens male

Wasp Goby - Brachygobius Xanthozona

Wasp Goby

Brachygobius Xanthozona

Stick Catfish - Farlowella acus

Stick Catfish

Farlowella acus

Clown Pleco - Panaqolus maccus

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

Pictus Catfish - Pimelodus pictus

Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

Royal Pleco - Panaque nigrolineatus

Royal Pleco

Panaque nigrolineatus

Jaguar Cichlid - Parachromis managuensis

Jaguar Cichlid

Parachromis managuensis

Butterfly Peacock Bass - Butterfly Peacock Bass

Butterfly Peacock Bass

Butterfly Peacock Bass

Pez Cachama - Piaractus brachypomus

Pez Cachama

Piaractus brachypomus

Red Rainbowfish - Glossolepis incisus

Red Rainbowfish

Glossolepis incisus

Altum Angelfish - Pterophyllum altum

Altum Angelfish

Pterophyllum altum

Similar Sizes (33 Species)

They can coexist if they are the same size or very similar sizes, it does not work in all cases, there may be exceptions.


Glass Catfish - Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Glass Catfish

Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Swordtail fish - Xiphophorus hellerii

Swordtail fish

Xiphophorus hellerii

Molly fish - Poecilia sphenops

Molly fish

Poecilia sphenops

Yoyo Loach - Botia almorhae

Yoyo Loach

Botia almorhae

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis nigriventris

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis nigriventris

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid - Nannacara anomala

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid

Nannacara anomala

Tiger Barb - Puntius tetrazona

Tiger Barb

Puntius tetrazona

German Blue Ram - Microgeophagus ramirezi

German Blue Ram

Microgeophagus ramirezi

Bleeding Heart Tetra - Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Bleeding Heart Tetra

Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Dwarf marbled catfish - Microglanis poecilus

Dwarf marbled catfish

Microglanis poecilus

Hatchet Fish - Thoracocharax stellatus

Hatchet Fish

Thoracocharax stellatus

Glassy Perchlet - Parambassis ranga

Glassy Perchlet

Parambassis ranga

Female Siamese Fighting Fish - Betta Splendens Female

Female Siamese Fighting Fish

Betta Splendens Female

Platy Fish - Xiphophorus maculatus

Platy Fish

Xiphophorus maculatus

Red-eyed Tetra - Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Red-eyed Tetra

Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Apple Snail - Pomacea bridgesii

Apple Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

Dwarf Gourami - Colisa lalia

Dwarf Gourami

Colisa lalia

Zebrafish - Danio rerio

Zebrafish

Danio rerio

Black Skirt Tetra - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Black Skirt Tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Harlequin Rasbora - Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Harlequin Rasbora

Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Emperor Tetra - Nematobrycon Palmeri

Emperor Tetra

Nematobrycon Palmeri

Three lined Pencilfish - Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Three lined Pencilfish

Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Black Phantom Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Black Phantom Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Forktail Blue-Eye - Pseudomugil furcatus

Forktail Blue-Eye

Pseudomugil furcatus

Espei Rasbora - Trigonostigma espei

Espei Rasbora

Trigonostigma espei

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil - Pseudomugil paskai

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil

Pseudomugil paskai

Dwarf Tetra - Hasemania nana

Dwarf Tetra

Hasemania nana

Semifasciolatus Barb - Puntius semifasciolatus

Semifasciolatus Barb

Puntius semifasciolatus

Moenkhausia Pittieri - Moenkhausia pittieri

Moenkhausia Pittieri

Moenkhausia pittieri

Bamboo Shrimp - Atyopsis moluccensis

Bamboo Shrimp

Atyopsis moluccensis

Spotted Dora Catfish - Agamyxus pectinifrons

Spotted Dora Catfish

Agamyxus pectinifrons

With Reservation (12 Species)

Compatible in some cases, it depends on the nature and personality of the fish.


Black Ghost Knife Fish - Apteronotus albifrons

Black Ghost Knife Fish

Apteronotus albifrons

Red Terror Fish - Mesoheros festae

Red Terror Fish

Mesoheros festae

Black bullhead - Ameiurus melas

Black bullhead

Ameiurus melas

Oscar Fish - Astronotus ocellatus

Oscar Fish

Astronotus ocellatus

Rio Grande cichlid - Herichthys cyanoguttatus

Rio Grande cichlid

Herichthys cyanoguttatus

Midas king fish - Amphilophus citrinellus

Midas king fish

Amphilophus citrinellus

Flowerhorn cichlid - Flowerhorn cichlid

Flowerhorn cichlid

Flowerhorn cichlid

Jack Dempsey Cichlid - Rocio octofasciata

Jack Dempsey Cichlid

Rocio octofasciata

Red-bellied Piranha - Pygocentrus nattereri

Red-bellied Piranha

Pygocentrus nattereri

Las especies territoriales por lo general pueden convivir con especies protegidas con coraza, ya que no pueden hacerles daño por su dura piel, lo que si hay que tener en cuenta es tener un acuario con dimensiones favorables para que cada pez pueda delimitar un territorio, ya que la mayoría de peces acorazados son también peces de fondo y les gusta estar buscando lugares donde ocultarse.


Myanmar Rainbow Snakehead - Channa aurantimaculata

Myanmar Rainbow Snakehead

Channa aurantimaculata

Nile Tilapia - Oreochromis niloticus

Nile Tilapia

Oreochromis niloticus

Dwarf Cichlid - Apistogramma borellii

Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma borellii

Considerable size difference (30 Species)

They can coexist while they are similar in size or the size difference is not very abysmal, since as the fish grows it increases the chances of eating its partner that did not grow much.


Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid - Apistogramma viejita

Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

Apistogramma viejita

Otocinclus Catfish - Otocinclus Affinis

Otocinclus Catfish

Otocinclus Affinis

Ember Tetra - Hemigrammus Rhodostomus

Ember Tetra

Hemigrammus Rhodostomus

Serpae Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Eques

Serpae Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Eques

Cherry Barb - Barbus titteya

Cherry Barb

Barbus titteya

Filamented Rainbowfish - Iriatherina Werneri

Filamented Rainbowfish

Iriatherina Werneri

Neon tetra fish - Paracheirodon innesi

Neon tetra fish

Paracheirodon innesi

Glowlight Tetra - Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Glowlight Tetra

Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Black Neon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Black Neon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Ember Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Ruby Tetra - Axelrodia riesei

Ruby Tetra

Axelrodia riesei

Green Neon Tetra - Paracheirodon Simulans

Green Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon Simulans

Boraras Brigittae Fish - Boraras Brigittae

Boraras Brigittae Fish

Boraras Brigittae

Endler Guppy Fish - Poecilia Wingei

Endler Guppy Fish

Poecilia Wingei

Galaxy Rasbora - Danio margaritatus

Galaxy Rasbora

Danio margaritatus

Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Lacustris Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia lacustris

Lacustris Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia lacustris

Preacox Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia preacox

Preacox Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia preacox

Stiphodon Ornatus - Stiphodon ornatus

Stiphodon Ornatus

Stiphodon ornatus

Anentome Helena - Anentome helena

Anentome Helena

Anentome helena

IndoPlanorbis Exustus - Planorbis planorbis

IndoPlanorbis Exustus

Planorbis planorbis

Horned Snail - Tyloperlamania sp

Horned Snail

Tyloperlamania sp

Red Cherry - Neocaridina davidi

Red Cherry

Neocaridina davidi

Amano Shrimp - Caridina multidentata

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Blue Bee Shrimp - Paracaridina sp

Blue Bee Shrimp

Paracaridina sp

Florida Dwarf Crayfish - Cambarellus diminutus

Florida Dwarf Crayfish

Cambarellus diminutus

Red-Backed Tetra - Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Red-Backed Tetra

Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Lemon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Lemon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Cardinal Tetra - Paracheirodon axelrodi

Cardinal Tetra

Paracheirodon axelrodi

Stick Catfish

Farlowella acus

Stick Catfish - Farlowella acus
  • Ph: 6 - 7
  • Temperature (c°): 24 - 26
  • Measures: 16 cm
  • Aquarium Capacity:
    24 Liters - 6 Gallons
  • Behavior: Likes to take refuge, Night, Peaceful
  • Morphology: Cuirass or Carapace, Thorns or pointed
  • Size: Medium
  • Swimming area: Aquarium background
  • Water Type: Sweet water