Quick Stats
Scientific Name: Tandanus tandanus
Distribution: Australia:- Murray Darling basin and a number of lakes around various Autralian states but numbers are dwindling.
Size: 50cm to 90cm (16 to 35 inches)
Common Names: Jewfish,Tandan,
Temperature: 25c(78f)
pH: 7
General Characteristics
Adults colouring can vary from brownish-green with yellow, or to brown and darker green. They also have a whitish belly, while juveniles are usually mottled grey. Like many fish these are sold small and usually end up extremely huge with appetites to match. A very gentle and normally peaceful catfish, it is a nice addition to a tank with solitary fish in a huge tank. Caution must be observed though as the barbells do contain small amounts of poison and they can certainly defend themselves if attacked.
Aquarium Set Up
Considering the eventual size they can reach, the tank they are housed in should be no smaller than 380litres (100 us gallons). This is also a very messy fish so adequate filtration is necessary to cope with the bio load produced. Caution must be observed if handling these fish as the barbells do hurt and possibly can leave a sore hand that wont heal for a while.
Feeding
Normally a bottom feeder these large fish can also learn to be incredibly fast at catching their food, sometimes as soon as it hits the surface. They have huge appetites and will eat anything that will fit in their mouths (a bit like oscars) and can be fed a variety of foods, from meaty preparations such as shrimp pellets and frozen beefheart to live or frozen crustacean animals like crayfish, molluscs, shrimp, krill, etc.
Compatibility
The Eel Tailed Catfish is not really a community fish but can be put with anything that wont openly attack it and that will not fit in its mouth as the fish grows. So neon tetras and other small-ish community fish are definitely out. Larger schooling fish such as Buenos Aires Tetras and tinfoil barbs may prove to be a better choice given the appropriate space, or largish more peaceful cichlids such as severums or rainbow cichlids.
Breeding
Being a nest builder this catfish starts reproducing around spring to mid summer. Usually the parents guard and aerate the nest. These fish take about 5 years to reach sexual maturity and have a decent lifespan in which they if properly cared for, can live for over 20 years.