A New Odd Ball For Me!

[§tudz]

Hey all,

well I've been bitten by the odd ball bug again, but this time the result might bite me. ( didn't tell the GF it bites, until we got home, she wasn't impressed, she doesn't like my polypterus' either, )

I went to the not-so-lfs today and wasn't taken by any of their stock, their rare fish seem to have dropped off a bit lately, and they seem to have started getting a lot of cichlids in I want odd balls!!

Well I knew they could order fish in, and finally gave in to ordering one (Channa bleheri). yay!!

gonna cost me £19.99 which I dont think is bad, the guy said they usually come in at around 2-3" which is a nice size as I can raise it, and make sure it will take dead fish etc.

I just have to sell my Platydora Costatus, and my 3 USD downcats which are currently in its future home.

I've been out and bought a new filter for the tank, as the current one clogs up and stops working for some reason, and the filter media is clean (GRR! silly FREE gifts, as got it from PFK magazine when I subscribed)
I've also bought some wood for the tank, and I'm going to order some plants from java-plants.com, need to also buy some tetra complete-substrate too. oooh! the fun of a new fishy, and setting up a tank as new.

Probably wont have the fish for a month or so yet, so plenty of time to soak the wood and get the tank up and running. I'll have to dig out that old fake log I have some place, to go in the tank, possibly.

Anybody here got any of these fish and have any tips I will find useful?

 

[andywg]

Why do you have to sell all the cats? If it's a filtration issue then just keep an eye on water changes. there's a slim to no chance of a loan dwarf snakehed going for them (I woud love to see one try and take on a P. costatus ).

The doradids can more than look after themselves. I have 8 (5 striped and 3 spotted) in my 3 foot tank with 4 upside down cats and 8 Channa gachua (similar to the C. bleheri, but less colourful).

Don't worry about getting your snakehead to take dead, my experience is that they take pretty much anything that comes in the tank. I have seen my Channa bleheri take flakes, pellets (sinking and floating) whitebait, bloodworm, mussel, prawn, live shrimp, live crickets and anything else that happens to hit the tank.

 

[§tudz]

Why do you have to sell all the cats? If it's a filtration issue then just keep an eye on water changes. there's a slim to no chance of a loan dwarf snakehed going for them (I woud love to see one try and take on a P. costatus ).

The doradids can more than look after themselves. I have 8 (5 striped and 3 spotted) in my 3 foot tank with 4 upside down cats and 8 Channa gachua (similar to the C. bleheri, but less colourful).

Don't worry about getting your snakehead to take dead, my experience is that they take pretty much anything that comes in the tank. I have seen my Channa bleheri take flakes, pellets (sinking and floating) whitebait, bloodworm, mussel, prawn, live shrimp, live crickets and anything else that happens to hit the tank.

AH!!

I've been told that they will rip fish to bits, and are best alone.
Thanks for that I will keep my talking cat, will still have to get rid of the USD cats though, as they are very small

 

[diademhill]

Your Channa bleheri should be ok with fish larger in diameter than itself.
I've kept them with corys & tiger barbs.
They are easy to feed & will climb into the feeding spoon.
Make sure all possible, however improbable, exits are blocked - these things are as bad as ropefish for climbing out!

 

[§tudz]

Your Channa bleheri should be ok with fish larger in diameter than itself.
I've kept them with corys & tiger barbs.
They are easy to feed & will climb into the feeding spoon.
Make sure all possible, however improbable, exits are blocked - these things are as bad as ropefish for climbing out!

ok cheers, , pretty much the same as my Polyterus'

Can I ask though, whats a feeding spoon?

 

[diademhill]

Can I ask though, whats a feeding spoon?

A stainless desert spoon that I use to portion out defrosted food - the channas soon learn to jump for the spoon or eat out of a spoon held just below the surface.

 

[§tudz]

Can I ask though, whats a feeding spoon?

A stainless desert spoon that I use to portion out defrosted food - the channas soon learn to jump for the spoon or eat out of a spoon held just below the surface.

lol, thought it might have been but thought I was being a little thick

are they hand feedable like birchirs? and have u ever been bitten?

 

[ringham]

I have a birchir and a dwarf snakehead in the same tank and I have NEVER seen the snakehead since I put it in the tank about 3 months ago. I know for a fact that it feeds because the food disappears. But it is kind of annoying because it never comes out never mind feeding from a spoon.
Any advice on how to get it to swim about

 

[Nina]

are they hand feedable like birchirs? and have u ever been bitten?

lol, thought it might have been but thought I was being a little thick

Mine will quite happily hand feed if he doesn't think that the food is going in the tank quick enough for him and then he will launch himself out of the water at the food to get it.

Both me and Andy have been "bitten" by him but all he really does is latch on realise your are not edible and then lets go in a huff. It doesn't hurt it just a shock the first time it happens and then after that you are kinda of expecting it.

Ad for having to move your USD - we currently have 6 Channa Gachua in with 5 USD and they do not bother them in the slightest. As long as the USD have some hiding places they should be fine. If you are worried just keep and eye on them and take them back if necessary.

ringham - 'fraid I can't give you any advice on how to get your little pain in the bum out and swimming as all of our snakeheads are quite to swim about the tank - Sorry!