Care
The Royal Twig Catfish is known from the Cesar, Magdalena, and San Jorge River basins in Colombia. These beautiful, elongate bottom-dwellers are best kept in a spacious, mature aquarium with neutral to soft, slightly acidic conditions. Provide a large expanse of soft sand substrate (gravel should be avoided) with a number of shady hiding places amongst driftwood and rocky caves. As these fish prefer dim lighting, open expanses of sand in brightly lit tanks should be shaded with large, broad-leaved plants such as Anubias or Java Fern tied to the decor (rooted plants may be dug up). Filtration should be efficient with areas of brisk water movement along with some quieter resting spots out of the current. There should be a decent level of oxygenation, and small frequent partial water changes will help keep nitrate to a minimum. Blue lighting (which switches on just before the main lights go out) will allow you to spend time observing these fish under their preferred subdued illumination. Royal Twig Catfish are peaceful towards their own kind and should be kept in groups. They can be safely kept alongside many peaceable community fish such as Corydoras catfish, hatchetfish, pencilfish, tetras etc. The presence of such fish swimming around in open water may even encourage the twig catfish out into view a bit more. Avoid housing with Loricariids of a more boisterous nature, which may outcompete them at feeding time.
Often confused with S. festivus, these fish may also be seen labelled as Royal farlowella.
Feeding
Although these fish will graze upon the natural algae within the aquarium for the small micro-organisms it may contain, the diet must be supplemented with small frozen foods such as Spirulina-enriched brineshrimp, mosquito larvae, daphnia, cyclops etc and plenty of vegetable matter e.g. courgette, cucumber, kale, and spinach. Most specimens will also adapt to taking dried foods such as sinking catfish pellets, algae wafers, and sheets of Nori, although frozen foods tend to be preferred. Do not offer an excessive amount of meaty foods as this will lead to health problems.
Breeding
This species has been bred in the home aquarium. The adhesive eggs are normally deposited on the aquarium glass, with the male providing parental care. Hatching should occur after 5-9 days (temperature dependent) with the fry free-swimming some 2-3 days later, after they have absorbed their yolk sacs.
