tandanuscatfish.net

Most TC are sold in aquarium stores when they are only a few centimeters long. Many people who purchase TCs don't realize that they can grow up to 50cm+ in an aqaurium environment, so TC need to be housed in at least a 4 Four Foot Tank.

Basic Tandanus Catfish Tank Setup 

Aquarium lighting creates a lovely ambiance to your tank as well being good for your fish. Most fish need some exposure to light, just as much as they need food and oxygen to stay healthy.

Tandanus catfish aren't huge fans of bright lighting so you don't need a bulb with strong wattage, unless you have certain types of aquatic plants that require lighting at a particular wattage and exposure time. 

The Filter is one of the most important items in you tank. There are various types of filters you can purchase on the market but the most important filtration rule for a Tandanus Catfish Tank is that the total volume of you tank's water needs to turn over 10 times per hour.  Tandanus catfish are very messy due to their large size and large poo.

Some people may find this filteration rule excessive, but most hardcore aquarists go by this rule, and then some. 

Tandanus like to sift through the sand. Gravel will tend to scratch them and damage their barbells leaving wounds open to all sorts of infections, although there a tandanus owners who use gravel with no problems. If you do decide to go with gravel, choose rounded stones to help prevent scratching.

Aquarium sand has been known to damage impellers in your mecahnical filtration, however I use Pool Filter Sand and have had no problems and is a lot cheaper than purchasing aqaurium sand form an aquarium shop. I paid $12.95 for a 25kg bag of Pool Filter Sand. 

When using sand ensure your place your filter's intake 6inches above the substrate level to avoid sand from being sucked into your filter. 

Tandanus Catfish need a hollow ornament in the tank or hiding spaces whether it be plants or driftwood. They like to be able to go to an area where they feel safe and secure. 

When purchasing ornaments check for sharp edging and that the ornament is big enough to accommodate your catfish as he/she grow. Alternatively you can make your own hollow ornament from PVC piping. Click on the below link for instructions:

Make Your Own DIY Aquarium Cave From PVC Pipe

Real plants tend to always make a tank look more impressive, but beware. Your lovely plants will not stay lovely in a Tandanus Tank for very long. 

They will eat, rip up, pull out and savage your plants, and for those who want to know why.....The Tandanus replies by saying "Because I can!" 

Forum member Danus's TC Tubby - Uprooting aquatic plants  

 
Elodea
Elodea is cheap to buy and is readily available at most aquarium stores.  Providing your Tandanus with bunches of Elodea will allow them to have a 24/7 salad bar available for them to munch on, as well as provide hiding places and somewhere to chill out in.

Handy Tip: Mixing fake plants with real plants in your aqua scape design is more cost effective and tends to give fake plants more of a realistic appearance.  

Baby Tandanus love to feel secure in their aqaurium environment so it is important to provide a spacious tank with lots of plants, ornaments, driftwood etc, as baby Tandanus like to hide. 

 Mr. Tinky's 2FT Baby Tank 
 

The more hiding places you provide for your baby Tandanus Catfish, the more you will see him/her, as they will go from hiding place to hiding place, whereas if you had only one ornament in the tank, your baby Tandanus Catfish will stay there and only come out when it's dark and quiet. 

A young Mr. Tinky hiding out in a Hairgrass plant

A good filter is also important. Baby Tandanus Catfish don't mind a bit of a current, as they like to swim against it, but ensure you have calm areas in the tank so you baby TC can sleep and rest. Hollow ornaments are ideal for baby Tandanus Catfish to chill out in.

Some people will argue that fish will only grow to the size of their environment, but stunted fish are not healthy fish. In most cases, the fish's body will cease to grow in a restricted environment but their internal organs will continue to grow and eventually deform due to the restriction of their stunted body. This is terrible way to die slowly

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