Tamana royal farlowella

Sturisomatichthys tamanae

Also known as Tamana twig catfish

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.2
Adult size: 8.7 in (22 cm)
Minimum tank: 53 gal (200 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: San Juan basin, Pacific Colombia
Family: Loricariidae

Overview

The tamana royal farlowella is a long, twig-like catfish that clings to wood and grazes biofilm, best kept as a small social group of its own kind. It is completely peaceful and holds to branches and broad leaves, so give it plenty of wood to perch on and choose calm tankmates that will not nip its slender body or long fins. Its diet is mostly vegetable, so keep the tank mature enough to grow biofilm and offer algae wafers, blanched courgette, and spinach, with only light protein. It likes clean, moving, well-oxygenated water, driftwood, and a tank of around 200 liters.

In the wild

Sturisomatichthys tamanae is endemic to the Pacific-slope rivers of Colombia, in the San Juan drainage and neighbouring Choco basins, where it clings to wood in clean, flowing water. Set the tank up with plenty of driftwood and branches to perch on, some broad-leaved plants, and open flow, over sand. Keep it warm at 24 to 28 C and around pH 6.0 to 7.2, clean and well oxygenated. Good current and low waste suit a fish from bright, briskly moving rivers.

Good to know

Sturisomatichthys tamanae is a twig catfish of Loricariidae, reaching about 22 centimeters on a very slender frame. It is a Choco endemic, named for the Tamana, a river in the San Juan drainage of Pacific Colombia. Members of the genus are facultative air breathers, able to gulp atmospheric air to supplement their gills in poorly oxygenated water. Breeding is of moderate difficulty; the pair spawns on a flat surface and the male guards and fans the eggs.

Did you know

This royal catfish comes from rivers on the wet Pacific side of the Andes, waters that drain to the sea and never join the Amazon at all. It is a twig-slim relative of the familiar whiptails, living in quiet exile beyond the mountains.

Tank mates

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