Tandanus Tandanus catfish (Australian Native)

[hazler]

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G'day. I've had all sorts of fish these past few years. Discus, catfish (plecos - common and rare), from tetras to angels and a whole range of in betweens. However I went into my lfs and found this guy. I've had smaller Tandanus' before and liked them all (lately I've just had a thing for native fish). He was in a 2ft tank, black as and was pretty inactive.

So I bought him, I know he wont have the longest life span being at that size. The fish shop seemed pretty upset that they couldn't move him into a bigger tank as their dispay was already stocked a little full. But anyway, I've had him in for a day.

He was and still is eating fine. Chases my hand, comes to the top of the tank when I put my hand in etc. Seems like a good fish. Only questions I have are for the more experienced Tandanus Tandanus owners.. That being, do you feel he should be more colourful by now? He's lightened up alot compared to what he was at the shop and I've turned off my t5, leaving just the LED on for him.

He's eaten 3 yabbies (2 were intended for food, the other I thought was big enough to survive as a tank mate lol, but he smashed that). I was thinking of feeding him/her mostly pallets every 2nd - 3rd day, then every 2 or 3 weeks a treat of some live food. 20% water changes each week with a gravel clean monthly and a filter clean monthly. I'm running an aqua pro 2200 canister filter.

Does this sound alright to you? The only other thing is growth, I've got a 4ft tank but I'm thinking of getting a 6 ft tank to put him in or sell him to another store that could cater. Don't wanna be cruel to the fish. He's about 4cm short of a foot.

Any help appreciated.

Just copied this from my youtube channel lol. But yeah I was hoping somebody could please be of assistance

He's just short of a foot.
Has colours coming back.
My water has 0amm 0nitra and 0 nitri at last test
23 Degree celcius (73.4 F)

Should he/she be so active? I've seen bright coloured tandanus be alot more dosile. Maybe turn the temp down?
And yeah I understand that its a big fish for a 4ft tank. But couldn't leave it in a 2ft tank it was ridiculous. Just hoping somebody with the experience could shed some light on it for me

 

[pharmaecopia]

Very nice tandanus, one of the fish on my wish list.

Are you sure about those water parameters, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 0 nitrate? If so it sounds like the tank isn't cycled. I'd be keeping an eye on the water quality to make sure it doesn't deteriorate. As far as water change regime goes I like to do that based on the total waste load in the system, nitrates. Monitor how fast the nitrate levels rise and determine what percentage and water change frequency keeps them under the desired level. Usually 40ppm is used as the upper limit for many keepers, with some going lower than this.

I can't speak from experience about he activity level of the fish, but most vids that I have seen on them show them as being active for a catfish. As long as it is eating I would not be overly concerned about it's activity level. I would leave the temp where it is, they can take relatively cool conditions but the temp should be good where it is.

As far as colouration give him a little more time to settle in. I have also found in many cases that environment can play a large role in how fish's colouration develops. Light substrates can wash them out, dark substrates can darken them up.

 

[hazler]

Thanks heaps for the reply mate.
Yeah they're an awesome fish. I one day hope to set up a big Australian native tank. It was meant to happen not too long ago but living arrangements don't allow for it at this point in time unfortunately.
But sorry about that, 0amm 0 nitrites and about 5.0ppm nitrates. Not sure how I wrote 0, I just tested the water again though and its all good.
That's a good way of doing it. I'll use that method, see what happens. Maybe drop back on the food a little. He eats pretty quickly too.
Appears that he is a night stalker though. He's picked off another yabbie, the big one. And the other two have burrowed in under some rocks to hide from him lol. I didn't think he was big enough to get them. Obviously is.

But I did notice last night that with the light off, he's colour shines through, really nice green army camo look, looks wicked. Must just be the reaction to the light, I've turned the t5 off, as said, so it's not all that bright. But thanks heaps for the advice. Really appreciate it.

 

[beebop]

Looks normal to me. I have had a few this size before. Quite a lot of the time, and especially when he thought it should be feed time, was very active. There were periods where he would just laze about too.

Judging by the thin tips on the tail, I would guess he is about to go through a growth spurt or have the tail "fill out" very shortly.

 

[hazler]

Yeah he gets pretty excited when I come near the tank haha. Cool as fish, lays down and chills now and then. Well hopefully its a fill out. Cause if the poor bugger gets any bigger then I'll have to ship him out. Be cruel to leave him in