Royal Farlowella Whiptail Catfish (Tank-Bred)

About

Found in the Pacific-slope rivers of Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador as well as Caribbean-slope drainages in Colombia, Sturisoma panamense is a slender, whiptail-style loricariid that can reach a respectable ten inches in the aquarium. Like others in its genus, it possesses a facultative air-breathing capability, meaning it can supplement gill respiration by gulping atmospheric air. A useful adaptation in the warm, sometimes oxygen-depleted waters of its native range. In the aquarium it spends much of its time grazing surfaces methodically, rasping away algae and biofilm with its sucker mouth, and it appreciates supplemental feeding with vegetable-based foods like zucchini, cucumber, and spirulina wafers. Despite its unusual body shape, it is a fairly peaceful fish that coexists well with similarly sized, non-aggressive tankmates. The long, flattened profile and decorative fin extensions make it visually interesting without being showy. Care is rated intermediate, mostly because it benefits from good water movement, consistent quality, and a well-established tank with natural algae growth to graze between feedings. Given the right setup it is a rewarding long-term resident, with a lifespan pushing into double digits for well-kept individuals.