Southern tandan
Neosilurus equinus
Also known as Equinus tandan
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 70–82°F
- 21–28°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 14.6 in
- 37 cm
- Minimum tank
- 106 gal
- 400 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Plotosidae
- Origin
- Central southern New Guinea
Overview
The southern tandan is a robust eel-tailed catfish for a big tank with an open floor and some current. Keeping it takes a little experience.
Did you know
For a fish called the southern tandan, it lives well to the north, in New Guinea. There it can push up fast rocky torrents and climb small waterfalls to reach the headwaters.
Caring for the southern tandan
Give a southern tandan a tank of at least 106 gal (400 L), with an open floor. It is a strong swimmer from flowing water and appreciates current. A floor of sand and water-worn rock, large stones for shelter and sturdy wood suit it.
Keep the water warm, at 70 to 82°F (21 to 28°C), with a pH of 6.5 to 7.8. Give it brisk, well-filtered flow rather than still water. It is active along the bottom at night and shy of bright light. Feed this carnivore in the evening, with sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, chopped prawn, mussel and earthworms.
The southern tandan is not a shoaling fish. Keep it singly, or as a pair if space is generous. It is calm toward fish it cannot eat, but small tank mates are at risk. Stock only larger, peaceful species, and choose them with care.
Like all plotosids, it carries serrated spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins that can deliver a painful venomous sting. Handle it with care and never grab it by hand. Breeding has not been recorded in aquaria.
Good to know
Neosilurus equinus is a member of the eel-tailed catfish family Plotosidae. It is also called the equinus tandan. It is adapted to swift, oxygen-rich water.
In the wild
The southern tandan comes from central and southern New Guinea. It lives in clear, fast-flowing hill streams and deep rocky pools.
Common questions
What size tank does a southern tandan need?
A southern tandan needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a southern tandan need?
A southern tandan is comfortable at 70–82°F (21–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.8.
What does a southern tandan eat?
A southern tandan is a carnivore that is active along the bottom at night. Feed it sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, chopped prawn, mussel and earthworms in the evening.
How big does a southern tandan get?
An adult southern tandan reaches about 14.6 in (37 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)
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
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9.4 in (24 cm)79 gal (300 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)Short-finned tandan
Neosilurus brevidorsalis
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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)
14.6 in (37 cm)143 gal (540 L)73–86°F (23–30°C)Ropefish
Erpetoichthys calabaricus
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