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Freshwater Fish in Victoria: Catfish | FN0053 |
Fisheries Victoria, Melbourne
Updated: March 2007
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Name:
Freshwater Catfish
Other Names:
Jewfish, eel-tailed catfish, tandan catfish
Family:
Plotosidae
Scientific Name:
Tandanus tandanus Mitchell, 1838
Status:
Native | |
Description
Elongate eel-like body with the tail tapering to a point. No scales and no adipose fin. Large head, flattened underneath, with moderate-sized eyes. Low mouth with thick, fleshy lips. Four pairs of whiskery barbels around the mouth. Tough, smooth skin. Dorsal and pectoral fins both have strong saw-edged spines. Colour varies with size; small fish to 15 cm are grey or brown on the back and the sides are often mottled with dark brown to black blotches; a white or yellowish belly. Larger fish lack the mottling and vary from olive-green to brown, black or purplish on the back and upper sides with a white belly.
Distribution
Murray River tributaries and the Murray River up to Echuca. Introduced into the Wimmera River at Horsham and Victoria Lake, Maryborough. Recently reported in the Yarra River in the Eltham area. Common in some areas, but not as abundant as the past.
Habitat
Variety of habitats, including lakes, rivers, creeks and billabongs, usually in sluggish or still water. Inhabits and spawns in flowing streams.
Brief Biology
Recorded to 90 cm in length and 6.8 kg in weight, individuals above 2 kg are uncommon. Essentially carnivorous bottom feeders, capable of exploiting a wide range of food sources. Crustaceans are the most important dietary item, followed by insects, snails and small fish. Water temperature between 20 and 24°C is considered the primary stimulus for spawning. Spawning involves construction of nests in sand or gravel by the male fish. If the nest is exposed by a drop in water level, another nest is built. If several nests are built and abandoned because of fluctuating water, spawning will not occur. Females deposit eggs, leaving the male to fan, clean and guard the nest for up to 2 weeks, although eggs usually hatch within 7 days. Nests have been observed to be used for several consecutive years, whether by the same or different pairs of fish is not known.
Other Notes
Fish should be handled carefully, as the saw-edged spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins can inflict painful wounds. Mature fish apparently have very limited range of movement, usually less than 5 km, and local populations could be greatly affected by heavy fishing, pollution or destruction of habitat and spawning areas. Adult specimens have long been recognized as having good table qualities.
Regulations
Recreational Fishing Licence requirements, and the regulations affecting the taking of Macquarie perch in Victoria, are provided in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide, available free from RFL sales agents and DPI Offices.
Further Reading
Freshwater Fish of Victoria is a series of brief information material on the native and introduced freshwater fish of Victoria's inland waters. Further, detailed reading on Freshwater Catfish is contained in:
- A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria, Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse, Department of Conservation and Environment
- Australian Freshwater Fishes, John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida
- Biological Information for Management of Native Freshwater Fish in Victoria, J D Koehn, W G O'Connor
Acknowledgements
This Information Note was developed by Charles Barnham PSM, with the assistance of Gary Backhouse, Phillip Cadwallader and Tarmo Raadik. The previous version was published in February 1998.
The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
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