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Green farlowella

Acestridium dichromum

Also known as Green stick catfish

FreshwaterFish

Green farlowella (Acestridium dichromum)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.0–6.5
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Herbivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Egg layer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Orinoco and Negro blackwaters

Overview

The green farlowella is a slender, twig-like catfish for a mature planted tank. It is a specialist for experienced keepers, not a first fish.

Did you know

The green farlowella is among the only green catfish in the world. Resting on a leaf it turns bright green, then fades to brown within a few days on roots or stone. Either way, it blends into its background.

Caring for the green farlowella

Give green farlowellas a mature, densely planted tank of at least 20 gal (75 L), with driftwood and leaf litter. Add them only once biofilm has built up, since they will slowly starve in a bare, brand-new tank.

Keep the water soft, dark and acidic, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) with a pH of 5.0 to 6.5. Give them gentle flow. Hold water quality steady, since this fish is sensitive to waste.

The green farlowella clings to plant stems and leaves and grazes the soft biofilm and algae there. Supplement that grazing with fine algae-based foods.

It can live alone, but it is social, and a small group suits it well. It is gentle and easily outcompeted, so keep it with tiny, calm tank mates or in a species tank. It fastens its eggs to plant leaves and wood, and breeding is rated moderate.

Good to know

Acestridium dichromum is a loricariid described in 1999, also sold as the green stick catfish.

In the wild

The green farlowella lives in blackwater shallows of the upper Orinoco and Negro drainages. The water there is soft, acidic and stained with tannins, with very little dissolved mineral content.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The green farlowella is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a green farlowella need?

A green farlowella needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a green farlowella need?

A green farlowella is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.0–6.5.

What does a green farlowella eat?

A green farlowella grazes soft biofilm and algae from plant stems and leaves. Supplement that grazing with fine algae-based foods.

How big does a green farlowella get?

An adult green farlowella reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

How does a green farlowella breed?

A green farlowella fastens its eggs to plant leaves and wood. Breeding it is rated moderate.

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