Amazon beaked catfish - Farlowella acus

The Needle Catfish or Amazon Beaked Cat fish(Farlowella acus) from South America is an armored catfish that is a very special guest in the aquarium with its extremely slender shape and beautifully shaped tail fin. This special fish grows up to 20 cm long. Its needle-shaped body is adorned with a pattern of light brown to olive brown and dark brown spots and stripes, the ventral side is yellowish. The extremely long, thin snout is also striking.

In nature the Beak Catfish lives in dead wood alluvial deposits in flowing water, Due to its color and body shape it is perfectly camouflaged there. Also in the aquarium should be a lot of wood available, which the catfish can graze and abrasion. Wood fibers are essential for the survival of these catfish!

The males of the needle catfish have clearly visible bristles on their snouts, while the snouts of the females are smooth, and their body shape is somewhat thicker. Farlowella acus can be kept in a small group of 5 animals if the aquarium is well structured and especially the males can avoid each other.

Breeding the needle catfish in the aquarium is considered difficult. The Needle Catfish is an adhesive spawner and spawns on hard substrate, but the spawning rate in the aquarium is not high. It may be possible to increase it with varied feeding. The males perform brood care and take care of the clutches.

A good current and a very good oxygen supply are just as important as suitable water values: The water should be soft and slightly acidic (pH value of approx. 5.5 to 7.5, GH 2 to 10 °dGH) and a water temperature of approx. 23-28 °C. The aquarium should be 80 cm long or more. Fluctuations in water values are not well tolerated, so it is better to change water more often and less.

During the day the fish often rest on a large leaf or on a root. The Needle Catfish is a nocturnal feeder and grazes the surfaces in the aquarium at night in the dark. In addition to algae, it also ingests microorganisms in the biofilms. Green food and autumn leaves are also gladly accepted. In the aquarium should definitely be fed with good quality Welstabs.

The Amazon beaked catfish leaves plants alone, and it does not eat shrimps either. Needle catfish can therefore be kept together with dwarf shrimps with similar demands on water values in planted aquariums without any problems. Since Farlowella acus is a very gentle and unassertive fish, it should not be socialized with rowdy by-fish or with crabs or shrimp.

Our food recommendation: The NatureHolic Catfish Feed for all aufwuchs feeding sucking catfish in the aquarium is a balanced tablet food, which does not cloud the water and the fish like to eat. The catfish tablets also contain NatureHolic active ingredient complexes, which provide the sucking catfish with everything they need for a strong immune system, healthy growth and great, contrasting coloration. As a snack, supplementary food or vacation food we recommend the CatfishPlates.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.

Dispensing size: 6-10cm