Tandan catfish (Tandanus tandanus)

Scientific name: Tandanus tandanus Mitchell, 1838

The Tandan catfish (Tandanus tandanus) is a freshwater fish of the family Plotosidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 5–25°C (41–77°F). Native range: Oceania, endemic to Australia.

Tandan catfish care at a glance

Temperature: 5–25°C (41–77°F)

Biology

Adults inhabit slow moving streams, lakes and ponds with fringing vegetation. They swim close to sand or gravel bottoms. More abundant in lakes than in flowing water. Usually solitary but juveniles sometimes form loose aggregations. Mainly bottom-feeders. Feed on insect larvae, prawns, crayfish, mollusks, and small fishes. Breeding occurs between spring and mid-summer when water temperatures rise to between 20? and 24?C. Utilized for human consumption.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Tandanus tandanus
Family: Plotosidae (Eeltail catfishes)
Order: Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 90.0
Common length: 45.0
Depth range: 10 m (33 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous; depth range 10 - ? m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Oceania: endemic to Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Venomous
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=5; K=0.10)