Dwarf royal twig catfish

Sturisomatichthys leightoni

Also known as Leightoni twig catfish, Colombian dwarf sturisoma

FreshwaterFish

Dwarf royal twig catfish (Sturisomatichthys leightoni) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.4
Adult size: 5.9 in (15 cm)
Minimum tank: 42 gal (160 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Magdalena basin, Colombia
Family: Loricariidae

Overview

The dwarf royal twig catfish is a long, slender, stick-shaped fish that is peaceful and gregarious, so a small group settles well together. It perches on wood, rock and broad leaves in flowing water and grazes biofilm and algae. Gentle and easily out-competed, it belongs with calm, non-boisterous tankmates. Feed it vegetable foods such as blanched zucchini and spinach, plus soft sinking pellets and some biofilm to graze, and make sure it gets its share. Give it a mature tank of about 160 liters with driftwood, gentle current and good oxygen.

In the wild

This twig catfish comes from the Magdalena basin in Colombia, clinging to wood and rock in clear, flowing, well-oxygenated water. A tank with driftwood, some slender branches, a sand floor and a steady current recreates its river home. Keep it soft to neutral, around pH 6.0 to 7.4, and warm at 24 to 28 C. Clean water and good flow keep this slender grazer in condition.

Good to know

Sturisomatichthys leightoni is a member of Loricariidae and reaches about 15 centimeters, a compact relative of the larger royal twig catfishes. Unlike most loricariids, which spawn in caves, it lays its eggs out in the open on a flat vertical surface, often the aquarium glass, and the male guards and fans the clutch until it hatches. This open spawning can be reproduced in a home tank with some care.

Did you know

Where most plecos hide their eggs deep in a cave, this twig catfish does the opposite, laying its clutch in plain view on a flat surface such as the front glass, where the male then stands guard over it.

Tank mates

Dwarf royal twig catfish is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.