Description
Farlowella acus is a twig catfish, a loricariid of 16 cm with a long body as thin as a twig, that blends in on wood and plants. It is from Lake Valencia and the Torito River basin, in Venezuela, and the IUCN considers it Vulnerable. It breathes air facultatively, like the rest of the genus.
It is a calm fish of clean, well-oxygenated water, which feeds on plant matter and roots, and it needs a group and a long tank with wood and plants.
Behavior
Calm and slow, it does better in a group of five or more and spends the day still on wood, leaves or the glass. It is sensitive to water quality and to competition for food from livelier fish.
It lives well with tetras, corydoras, dwarf cichlids and other peaceful fish.
Avoid housing it with large or lively fish that take its food and with territorial cichlids.
Habitat
Farlowella acus lives in Lake Valencia and the Torito River basin, in Venezuela.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
It spawns at dusk or dawn. The male tends the clutch and helps the fry free themselves from the eggs.
Diet
Herbivorous: it eats plant matter and roots, and grazes algae and biofilm.
- Staple: blanched greens, such as cucumber or courgette, and vegetable tablets.
- Supplement: wood to graze.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 25–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 25–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 25–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–25 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–6.8 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–6.8 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
The care values (pH, temperature and hardness) come from a single source: none of the other accepted sources records them for this species.
Water: FishBase gives pH 6-7, 3-8 dH and 24-26 °C. Size: 16 cm SL. FishBase indicates a group of five or more and a tank of at least 80 cm. Status: the IUCN lists it as Vulnerable since 2020.
Lifespan: the profile's own estimate; the sources consulted do not give it.
Litres per fish and tank height and depth: the profile's own judgement; FishBase gives the minimum length (80 cm) and the profile uses 100 cm.
Plan your next aquarium
Is this fish right for you? Plan a suitable aquarium before setting it up.