Tandanus tandanus • Plotosidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Tandanus tandanus** (Mitchell, 1838)
Common Name(s)	Dewfish, Eel Tailed Catfish, Freshwater Catfish, Tandan
Synonym(s)	Plotosus tandanus
Pronunciation	Tahn dah ness - tahn dah ness
Etymology	The origin of the name is unclear. Possibly from an Australian Aboriginal name for the fish.
Species Information
Size	850mm (33.5") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Second dorsal fin originating above middle of body. Smaller fish (>30 cm) have a mottled coloration.
Sexing	Males possess a long cylindrical genital papilla and females a triangular one.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Eastern Australia. Australia waters, Eastern Australia Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.4 - 8.0
Temperature	10.0-26.0°C or 50-78.8°F (Show others within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Feeds on small crustaceans, insects, snails and small fishes in the wild. Carnivorous but not a fussy eater in the aquarium. Will take most frozen/live/prepared foods, especially meaty types.
Furniture	Found in slow-flowing rivers and lakes with fringing vegetation, being more common in the latter. Hiding spaces in the form of PVC pipes and/or driftwood are necessary.
Compatibility	A peaceful, solitary species. Juveniles may form loose aggragations. Should not be kept with smaller fishes.
Breeding	Spawns when temperatures rise to between 20-24?Cduring spring and summer. Spawning is not stimulated by flooding. The number of eggs increases with size, ranging from about 2800 to 20600 eggs in females between 390 and 530 mm long. They build a circular to oval nest, generally around 0.6-2.0 m in diameter, from pebbles and gravel. During courtship, both male and femal circle and weave about the nest. The female then arches her body, agitates her pelvic fins and releases eggs about 30 cm above the nest. The eggs are spherical (about 3 mm in diameter), non-adhesive, and a light greenish yellow in color. The male fertilizes the eggs, which sink to the botom and settle into the gravel of the nest. One of the adults, usually the male, will remain at the nest until the eggshatch in about 7 days. The larvae are about 7 mm long when hatched, and barbels appear after 3 days.
Further Information
References	Interior Aust.v. 1 - ppopp. 44, 95 - Pl. 5 (fig. 2) McDowall, RM, 1996. Freshwater fishes of south-eastern Australia. Reed Books, Chatswood. 247 pp.
Registered Keepers	(1) Slider, (2) bang, (3) selena, (4) fraggle, (5) biggreeny101, (6) fishmosy, (7) stealth77, (8) Janero101 (k: 3). Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	None.
Articles	- Shane's World Species How to Put a Tandanus in Your Tank
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Last Update	2006 Jan 29 00:00 (species record created: 2001 Apr 24 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Tandanus tandanus (Mitchell, 1838)

Common Name(s)

Dewfish, Eel Tailed Catfish, Freshwater Catfish, Tandan

Synonym(s)

Plotosus tandanus

Pronunciation

Tahn dah ness - tahn dah ness

Etymology

The origin of the name is unclear. Possibly from an Australian Aboriginal name for the fish.

Species Information

Size

850mm (33.5") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Second dorsal fin originating above middle of body. Smaller fish (>30 cm) have a mottled coloration.

Sexing

Males possess a long cylindrical genital papilla and females a triangular one.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Eastern Australia.
Australia waters, Eastern Australia Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

6.4 - 8.0

Temperature

10.0-26.0°C or 50-78.8°F (Show others within this range)

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Feeds on small crustaceans, insects, snails and small fishes in the wild. Carnivorous but not a fussy eater in the aquarium. Will take most frozen/live/prepared foods, especially meaty types.

Furniture

Found in slow-flowing rivers and lakes with fringing vegetation, being more common in the latter. Hiding spaces in the form of PVC pipes and/or driftwood are necessary.

Compatibility

A peaceful, solitary species. Juveniles may form loose aggragations. Should not be kept with smaller fishes.

Breeding

Spawns when temperatures rise to between 20-24?Cduring spring and summer. Spawning is not stimulated by flooding. The number of eggs increases with size, ranging from about 2800 to 20600 eggs in females between 390 and 530 mm long. They build a circular to oval nest, generally around 0.6-2.0 m in diameter, from pebbles and gravel. During courtship, both male and femal circle and weave about the nest. The female then arches her body, agitates her pelvic fins and releases eggs about 30 cm above the nest. The eggs are spherical (about 3 mm in diameter), non-adhesive, and a light greenish yellow in color. The male fertilizes the eggs, which sink to the botom and settle into the gravel of the nest. One of the adults, usually the male, will remain at the nest until the eggshatch in about 7 days. The larvae are about 7 mm long when hatched, and barbels appear after 3 days.

Further Information

References

Interior Aust.v. 1 - ppopp. 44, 95 - Pl. 5 (fig. 2)
McDowall, RM, 1996. Freshwater fishes of south-eastern Australia. Reed Books, Chatswood. 247 pp.

Registered Keepers

(1) Slider, (2) bang, (3) selena, (4) fraggle, (5) biggreeny101, (6) fishmosy, (7) stealth77, (8) Janero101 (k: 3).

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Breeding Reports

None.

Articles