Farlowella Catfish

Farlowella is a twig catfish in the most literal sense — an elongated, stick-thin body and a mottled brown finish that makes it nearly invisible lying motionless against driftwood or plant stems. It's a dedicated algae grazer with a gut adapted to process plant material efficiently, but that slow metabolism means it needs a tank that's already grown in some biofilm and green algae rather than a sterile, freshly set-up one.

Care level: Moderate · Temperament: Peaceful · Max size: ~6" · Min tank: 20 gal · Diet: Herbivore, algae + vegetable matter