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As with most of this genera identification of the many Farlowella can be a problem. Aquarium Care: Not an easy catfish to keep as there have been many unexplained deaths attributed to this species (and other Farlowella) and as such would need dedicated care from an experienced catfish keeper who has worked with this species or its close cousins from the easier kept Sturisoma genera. As this is a very timid species, if housed with other inhabitants you would be better keeping away from boisterous fish such as some of the Barb species (such as tigers) and definitely Cichlids. Better companions would be the unobtrusive Corydoras species and small Characins or Rasboras. Needs a high oxygen content in the aquarium with regular water changes to keep the water in pristine condition. Prefers a dark substrate with a dense vegetation, floating and long leaved plants where they will hang on to. Diet: They are mostly vegetarian with algae being their number one source of food for adults and young fry so the above mentioned foods along with vegetable laden tablets should suffice. Remarks: In Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes Farlowella platorynchus is now being stated as a synonym of F. amazonum.

Amazon twig catfish

Acestra amazonum, Farlowella amazona, Acestra gladiolus, Farlowella gladiolus, Farlowella carinata, Farlowella pseudogladiolus, Farlowella paranaense, Farlowella oliveirae, Farlowella pleurotaenia

Loricariidae

South America: Amazon, Tocantins, and La Plata River basins. Type locality: Santarem, River Amazons, Brazil.

22.5cm (8¾ins)

26-30°c (79-87°f.)

6.0-7.0.

Covain, R., S. Fisch-Muller, C. Oliveira, J. H. A. Mol, J. I. Montoya-Burgos and S. Dray 2015 (29 Oct.) Molecular phylogeny of the highly diversified catfish subfamily Loricariinae (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) reveals incongruences with morphological classification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution v. 94 (Pt. B): 492-517 [1-26].
Evers, H.-G. & I.Seidel: Mergus, Baensch Catfish Atlas Volume 1, 1st English edn., 2005. Pp.944.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.