Dewfish - Tandanus tandanus

Scientific name: Tandanus tandanus

Common name: Dewfish

Family: Plotosidae

Usual size in fish tanks: 60 - 80 cm (23.62 - 31.5 inch)

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Recommended pH range for the species: 6.4 - 7.5

Recommended water hardness (dGH): 10 - 18°N (178.57 - 321.43ppm)

0°C 32°F30°C 86°F

Recommended temperature: 15 - 25 °C (59 - 77°F)

The way how these fish reproduce: Spawning

Where the species comes from: Oceania

Temperament to its own species: peaceful

Temperament toward other fish species: aggressive to smaller

Usual place in the tank: Bottom levels

Food and feeding

In the wild, Dewfish are highly carnivorous. Their diet in the aquarium needs to be a meaty one. Earthworms, chopped liver, brine shrimp are readily accepted but also offer them flakes or pellets to vary their diet.

Origin

Australia; Dewfish are to be found all over the continent

Sexing

The only way to sex these fish is to look at the papilla. The male will have a long cylindrical papilla, the females will be triangular.

Breeding

The male will build a nest out of the substrate and when the female is happy with it they will spawn. Up to 20,000 eggs can be laid in a batch. The male will guard these until they hatch after an incubation of about 7 days. The fry can be offered brine shrimp as their first food.

Lifespan

In the aquarium, Tandanus tandanus is expected to live for 3-4 years.

Short description

Tandanus tandanus need to be handled very carefully; they have spines on their fins that will inflict a lot of pain. The dewfish is sometimes referred to as the eel tailed catfish.