Aquarium Care:
Not an easy catfish to keep as there have been many
unexplained deaths attributed to this species (and
other Farlowella) and as such would need
dedicated care from an experienced catfish keeper
who has worked with this species or its close cousins
from the easier kept Sturisoma genera. As this
is a very timid species, if housed with other inhabitants
you would be better keeping away from boisterous fish
such as some of the Barb species (such as tigers)
and definitely Cichlids. Better companions would be
the unobtrusive Corydoras species and small
Characins or Rasboras. Needs a high oxygen content
in the aquarium with regular water changes to keep
the water in pristine condition. Prefers a dark substrate
with a dense vegetation, floating and long leaved
plants where they will hang on to. Diet:
They are mostly vegetarian with algae being their
number one source of food for adults and young fry
so the above mentioned foods along with vegetable
laden tablets should suffice. Etymology:
The genus name Farlowella: –ella (L.),
diminutive connoting endearment: in honour of American
physician and botanist (specialising in algae) William
Gilson Farlow (1844–1919), Harvard University.
The specific name schreitmuelleri: in honour
of German aquarist Wilhelm Schreitmüller (1870–1945),
who provided holotype [name often credited to Ahl
1936, but Arnold made the name available in an aquarium
publication before Ahl’s description was published].
Common
Name:
Schreitmueller's Twig Catfish
Synonyms:
Farlowella latisoma
Family:
Loricariidae
Distribution:
South America:
Lower Amazon River basin, Brazil. Type locality:
Tapajós River basin, Pará state.
Size:
18.0cm (7ins)
Temp:
22-26°c (71-79°f.)
p.H.
6.0-7.0.
IUCN
Red List
Farlowella
schreitmuelleri is endemic to Brazil and is known
from the type locality, Tapajós River basin,
Pará state. After the synonymisation of F.
latisoma with this species, its distribution was
expanded to the Trombetas River, and there is also a
record of the species from the Guamá River. Considering
the new records and because no threats capable of driving
the taxon to extinction have been detected, Farlowella
schreitmuelleri was categorised as Least Concern
(LC), (IUCN 2022).
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