{"product_id":"eel-tail-catfish-tandanus-tandanus","title":"Eel-tail Catfish | Tandanus tandanus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Eel-tail Catfish is a gentle, tapering native that snuffles along the substrate for food and famously builds tidy gravel nests to breed. It is a genuinely large fish — commonly around 50 cm and capable of more — so it needs a big tank and space to grow. Peaceful by nature, but mind the venomous pectoral and dorsal spines when netting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to the rivers, lakes and billabongs of eastern Australia, particularly the Murray–Darling and coastal drainages. It lives over gravel, sand and mud in slow to still, often temperate waters with plenty of submerged timber, rocks and undercut banks for cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA stout-bodied catfish whose rear half tapers into a continuous eel-like tail, formed by the fused dorsal, caudal and anal fins. Colour ranges from olive-green to brown or almost black above, fading to a pale belly, with four pairs of barbels around the mouth. Juveniles are often mottled, becoming more uniform with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and unaggressive, it will nonetheless eat any fish or shrimp small enough to fit in its mouth, so tankmates must be robust and too large to swallow. It is largely nocturnal and spends the day tucked into cover, becoming more active as the lights dim.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA bottom-oriented omnivore with a carnivorous leaning. It takes sinking pellets and wafers readily, and relishes earthworms, prawn, mussel, fish pieces and live or frozen meaty foods. Feed after lights-out to suit its natural rhythm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a large tank with a soft sand or smooth gravel substrate, generous timber and rock cover, and clean, well-filtered, well-oxygenated water. It prefers cooler temperate conditions and does not need heating in most Australian rooms. Handle only with a container rather than a net where possible, as the spines can deliver a painful venomous sting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA nest builder. The male constructs a large circular nest of gravel and stones, over which the pair spawn, and he then guards the eggs until they hatch. Breeding is seasonal and triggered by warming water, and is rarely attempted in home aquaria given the fish's size.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTandanus tandanus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEel-tail Catfish (Dewfish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEastern Australia (Murray–Darling and coastal drainages)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 50 cm (occasionally larger)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–12+ years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (but eats small fish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e450+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (bottom-feeder, carnivore-leaning)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16–26 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5–8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–20 dGH (medium to hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge temperate native aquariums and ponds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMostly (may disturb plants while foraging)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRobust, similarly-sized natives and hardy fish too large to be eaten — golden perch, silver perch, larger rainbowfish, bass and other big peaceful tankmates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmall fish and shrimp that will be eaten, and aggressive fish that will harass it or compete for the bottom. Not suited to a standard community tank.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232770179363,"sku":null,"price":19.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232770212131,"sku":"AA1522","price":24.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232770244899,"sku":null,"price":29.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-50cm)","offer_id":55351957225763,"sku":null,"price":34.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Eel_tailed_Catfish.jpg?v=1781482307","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/eel-tail-catfish-tandanus-tandanus","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}