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Scientific Name Tandanus tandanus  (Mitchell, 1838)
Common Names Tandan
Australsk Ferskvandsmalle (Denmark), Dewfish, Eel Tail Catfish, Freshwater Catfish, Tauwels (Germany)
Type Locality Lagoon near Tangulda, Namoi River, New South Wales; river between Gwydir River and MacIntyre River, New South Wales, Australia.
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. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 900mm or 35.4" 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.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Oceania: endemic to Australia.
Australia waters, Eastern Australia Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
pH 6.4 - 8.0
Temperature 10.0-26.0°C or 50-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section 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. User data.
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.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Three expeditions into the interior of eastern Australia v. 1, pp opp. 44, 95, Pl. 5 (fig. 2).
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 25 00:31 (species record created: 2001 Apr 24 00:00)