Parachanna Obscura (snakehead). Tank Mates?

[Sasan]

So i've kept a Parachanna Obscura for a week now, and it has a 85 gallon tank all by itself.
I have anbuias, javamoss and javaplants, stones that are polished to be not so sharp, and sand as substrate and a plenty of wood.

The tank provides good places for hiding and big open swimming areas.

But my problem is, that i want it to have a tank mate.
So what fish would be sutible?

Also, i want an algea eater (thinking of albino pleco, not ancitrus), but im afraid the snakehead will eat it.
Also, i was thinking of one oscar, but again im afraid the snakehead or the oscar will kill each other or that the oscar eats the plants.

So what to keep with my parachanna?

Any suggestions`?

I'd prefere a fish thats not so shy.

 

[CFC]

Parachanna obscura is probably the most aggressive of the smaller snakehead species and is likely to attack any tankmates, a large plec may be ok depending on the individual aggressiveness of the snakehead but would have to be watched carefully for signs of damage.

 

[Sasan]

Parachanna obscura is probably the most aggressive of the smaller snakehead species and is likely to attack any tankmates, a large plec may be ok depending on the individual aggressiveness of the snakehead but would have to be watched carefully for signs of damage.

Oh...well my snakehead is very shy, its never swims in the open, but i see it swiming between the plants and roots.

is this normal behaviour?
also, im thinking of buying 2-4 more obscura.

is this a good idea?

 

[CFC]

Parachanna obscura is probably the most aggressive of the smaller snakehead species and is likely to attack any tankmates, a large plec may be ok depending on the individual aggressiveness of the snakehead but would have to be watched carefully for signs of damage.

Oh...well my snakehead is very shy, its never swims in the open, but i see it swiming between the plants and roots.

is this normal behaviour?
also, im thinking of buying 2-4 more obscura.

is this a good idea?

That sounds like very normal snakehead behaviour, apart from the very large Channa species all snakeheads are ambush hunters which dart out from cover to grab prey as it swims past.

Snakeheads are best kept alone unless you want to breed them, if you add more snakeheads you will eventually end up with just a pair or possibly even just one fish as the dominant fish will kill off the others in its territory.

 

[sharp tooth]

i havent had manny problems if any keeping anysnakeheads with tank mates.
ive kept rainbows, obscura, africana, spearhead, punktata and a few others. ive yet to keep a snakehead on its own in a tank.

just make sure you add fish that are as big if not bigger than the sh and that arnt the same shape as the sh.
i did have a bit of a battle once with my punktata and a birchir once but i took it as though the punktata though it was another sh. ive also seen very quiet fish turn on a sh and kill it just because it see`s the sh as a threat. a 6" giant gorami killed a channa of 5" at my lfs a few months back and all i could see the reson for that is the gorami was frighten by the sh so retalliated before the sh could hurt it.

what ever you add just watch for problems and remove them if there is any, its hit and miss with what will live together and what wont. you dont know till you try.

how about a shole of silver sharks, tin foil barbs? something quick swimming and peaceful.
my punktata live very well with my african pike for manny months while i had them.

as for seeing much of the obscura, the only thing to do is add loads of cover so the snakehead feels secure but not to much so you can still see it.

 

[Sasan]

I've decided to buy 3 more of the same species which is about the same size as well.-

 

[sharp tooth]

what more obscura? i would advise against adding more snakeheads. for all i havent had manny problems with tank mates i wouldent dream of keeping them together with there own. ive kept rainbows with there own kind with no problems but i recon youll be in for trouble.

 

[Sasan]

what more obscura? i would advise against adding more snakeheads. for all i havent had manny problems with tank mates i wouldent dream of keeping them together with there own. ive kept rainbows with there own kind with no problems but i recon youll be in for trouble.

Well, i've reduced the order.
So i'll be getting just one more.

i'll see how it goes.

Do you think Corys or a pleco would go fine with them?

 

[sharp tooth]

i think your mad to try any more snakeheads with it, 1 might be worse than a group.

corys i wouldent go with unless you can get giant ones but a decent sized pleco should do fine i would think, as long as the obscura dosent see the whole tank as his.

when you add tank mates move everything around so he has to settle back in at the same time as the new commer.

 

[Sasan]

Well, they are still only 8-10 cm big, but i cant (wont) change my aquascape, its just perfect.


But if the new comer starts any trouble, i'll find him a tank.
But i think it should be ok, hopefully.

Any suggestions for which pleco to have, i want one thats good at removing algea and doesnt #### alot.

I want something else then ancitrus.

 

[Sasan]

I want to get a bichir or a ropefish, preferably both.

Do you think it will be ok to have it with 2 snakeheads?

 

[pica_nuttalli]

well, i doubt that you're going to have two snakeheads for very long... unless you get very lucky and they form a mated pair.

have you even read any of the previous posts? CFC's gone on the record with P.obscura being one of the most psycho of the small snakeheads. Sharptooth has repeatedly said "no tankmates that look remotely like snakeheads!"

CFC:

That sounds like very normal snakehead behaviour, apart from the very large Channa species all snakeheads are ambush hunters which dart out from cover to grab prey as it swims past.

Snakeheads are best kept alone unless you want to breed them, if you add more snakeheads you will eventually end up with just a pair or possibly even just one fish as the dominant fish will kill off the others in its territory.

Sharptooth:

just make sure you add fish that are as big if not bigger than the sh and that arnt the same shape as the sh. i did have a bit of a battle once with my punktata and a birchir once but i took it as though the punktata though it was another sh.

so just because your snakehead is "shy" doesn't mean it's friendly! and no, they don't think that a birchir would make a good tankmate. i personally wouldn't add the ropefish because it might not be fast enough to escape the snakehead should things go down the toilet. why not go for the larger shoaling fish? maybe something without much personality so you don't get too attached to it.

 

[Sasan]

well, i doubt that you're going to have two snakeheads for very long... unless you get very lucky and they form a mated pair.

have you even read any of the previous posts? CFC's gone on the record with P.obscura being one of the most psycho of the small snakeheads. Sharptooth has repeatedly said "no tankmates that look remotely like snakeheads!"

CFC:

That sounds like very normal snakehead behaviour, apart from the very large Channa species all snakeheads are ambush hunters which dart out from cover to grab prey as it swims past.

Snakeheads are best kept alone unless you want to breed them, if you add more snakeheads you will eventually end up with just a pair or possibly even just one fish as the dominant fish will kill off the others in its territory.

Sharptooth:

just make sure you add fish that are as big if not bigger than the sh and that arnt the same shape as the sh. i did have a bit of a battle once with my punktata and a birchir once but i took it as though the punktata though it was another sh.

so just because your snakehead is "shy" doesn't mean it's friendly! and no, they don't think that a birchir would make a good tankmate. i personally wouldn't add the ropefish because it might not be fast enough to escape the snakehead should things go down the toilet. why not go for the larger shoaling fish? maybe something without much personality so you don't get too attached to it.

Well i wont be getting any tank mates for it, at least not for a while.

I have 4 obscura now in the same tank, and they are about the same size.

They do get along well, and i havnt seen any fights.