Short-finned tandan
Neosilurus brevidorsalis
Also known as Brevidorsalis tandan
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 70–82°F
- 21–28°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 9.4 in
- 24 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Plotosidae
- Origin
- Cape York and southern New Guinea
Overview
The short-finned tandan is a mid-sized eel-tailed catfish, the most compact of its group, for the bottom of a large tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.
Did you know
The short-finned tandan lives on both sides of the shallow Torres Strait. Whenever ice ages dropped the sea, the strait drained, and Cape York and New Guinea became one landmass. Freshwater fish could then spread between them without ever meeting the ocean.
Caring for the short-finned tandan
Give a short-finned tandan a tank of at least 79 gal (300 L). Even at its smaller size, it wants floor space to roam. A soft sand floor, driftwood, some rounded stones and shady cover suit it.
Keep it in warm, neutral, moderately hard water, at 70 to 82°F (21 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. Steady filtration should keep the water clean and well oxygenated. This bottom-feeding omnivore patrols after dark, nosing through sand and leaf litter for anything edible. Feed sinking catfish pellets, frozen bloodworm, chopped prawn and earthworms once the lights are low.
The short-finned tandan lives alone rather than in a shoal. Keep a single fish, or a pair only if the tank is large. It is not aggressive, but it will swallow small fish given the chance. Keep its tank mates on the larger, peaceful side, and pick them with care.
Like the rest of its family, it has fin spines that can give a venomous sting. Handle it carefully when netting or moving it. Breeding has not been recorded in aquaria.
Good to know
Neosilurus brevidorsalis is a plotosid, one of the eel-tailed catfishes, and it is also called the brevidorsalis tandan. Its name means short dorsal, for the small first dorsal fin set well forward on the body. That fin sits ahead of the long fin that runs around the tail.
In the wild
The short-finned tandan lives in warm streams, lakes and swamps on Cape York, in far northern Australia, and across southern New Guinea. Its waters range from clear flowing tributaries to turbid backwaters.
Common questions
What size tank does a short-finned tandan need?
A short-finned tandan needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a short-finned tandan need?
A short-finned tandan is comfortable at 70–82°F (21–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.
What does a short-finned tandan eat?
A short-finned tandan is a bottom-feeding omnivore that patrols after dark. Feed it sinking catfish pellets, frozen bloodworm, chopped prawn and earthworms once the lights are low.
How big does a short-finned tandan get?
An adult short-finned tandan reaches about 9.4 in (24 cm).
Related species
13.4 in (34 cm)106 gal (400 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)Yellow eel-tail catfish
Neosilurus hyrtlii
13.4 in (34 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
14.6 in (37 cm)106 gal (400 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)Southern tandan
Neosilurus equinus
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17.3 in (44 cm)106 gal (400 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)Soft-spined tandan
Neosilurus mollespiculum
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17.7 in (45 cm)119 gal (450 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)Narrow-fronted tandan
Neosilurus ater
17.7 in (45 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
31.5 in (80 cm)185 gal (700 L)61–79°F (16–26°C)Marbled tandanus catfish
Tandanus tandanus
31.5 in (80 cm) · 185 gal (700 L)
9.4 in (24 cm)172 gal (650 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Neambi eartheater
Geophagus neambi
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