The Eel-Tailed Catfish or Tandanus tandanus is a freshwater fish that is native to eastern Australia, namely the Murray/Darling river system. This fish goes by a few different names including Tandan, Dewfish, Freshwater Catfish and Jewfish. These fish get their names from their tail that looks like an Eel, and its large face, which has the typical Catfish barbels. They have small eyes and tough skin which is quite smooth. Some are brown, while other are more of a olive color with a white underbelly. You can check out a Eel-Tailed Catfish yourself in the video below...Eel-Tailed Catfish can grow fairly large, weighing in a 13lbs (6kg) and reaching lengths of 36" (91cm). They will live to about 8 years old maximum. Like other catfish, this species is found in lakes, ponds and slow moving streams. They feed on crayfish, mollusks, small fish and insect larvae.
Spawning in the spring or early summer, the Eel Tailed Catfish will build a large nest, about 1 meter in diameter with stones and bits of gravel. After the eggs are laid, one parent will guard the eggs until they hatch into small fry. There have even been reports of both parents sticking around to guard the nest. Be careful if you catch one of these fish because they have very sharp dorsal and pectoral spines that can cause some serious pain.
If you have any additional information about the Eel-Tailed Catfish leave us a comment!
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