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Farlowella acus and a fish in the family Poeciliidae (female specimen, possibly Poecilia reticulata )

Whiskered twig catfish

Slender South American armored catfish genus

Photo: User:Haplochromis, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Farlowella is a genus of freshwater armored catfishes native to South America. These slender fish inhabit major river basins like the Amazon and Orinoco. They are popular in aquariums due to their unique stick-like appearance and algae-eating habits.

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  • Body resembles a thin stick of wood
  • Found in Amazon and Orinoco rivers
  • Named after botanist William Gilson Farlow
  • Popular species in the aquarium trade
  • Diet consists mainly of algae

What it is

Farlowella is a genus of ray-finned fishes within the family Loricariidae. These are suckermouth armored catfishes, specifically belonging to the subfamily Loricariinae. They possess an extremely slender and elongated body that resembles a thin stick of wood. The body is typically brownish with two dark stripes. These stripes start at the tip of the pronounced rostrum, pass over the eyes, and end at the caudal fin. The stripes are periodically interrupted on the caudal peduncle.

Where it lives

These catfishes are found across South America. Their distribution is broad, covering the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná river basins. They also inhabit coastal rivers of the Guyana Shield. However, they are absent from the Pacific slope of the Andes. They do not live in the coastal rivers of the Brazilian Shield either. This specific range defines their natural habitat within the continent.

How it lives

Species in this genus feed primarily on algae. This dietary preference links them to their namesake, William Gilson Farlow, a botanist who studied algae. Morphological and molecular studies suggest Farlowella is closely related to the genus Sturisoma. Some authorities place them within the tribe Harttiini. Their slender shape likely helps them blend into their environment, resembling plant debris or twigs in the water.

Whiskered twig catfish
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

Many species within this genus are kept in aquariums. Their unique appearance and peaceful nature make them suitable for home tanks. They help control algae growth in these setups. The genus is named after William Gilson Farlow, a famous American botanist from Harvard University. His work focused on algae, which is the favorite food of these fish.

Questions people ask about Whiskered twig catfish

What do Farlowella catfish eat?

These fish primarily eat algae. This diet is reflected in the genus name, which honors a botanist known for studying algae. In aquariums, they help keep glass and decorations clean by grazing on algal growth.

Where are Farlowella catfish found in the wild?

They are native to South America. You can find them in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná river systems. They also live in coastal rivers of the Guyana Shield but are not found on the Pacific side of the Andes.

Why are they called twig catfish?

Their bodies are extremely slender and elongated, looking like thin sticks of wood. This shape helps them camouflage among roots and branches in their natural river habitats. The brownish color and dark stripes enhance this effect.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Farlowella", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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