Snake Heads

[fish are friends....]

I really am starting to get interested in these (muchly because of nelly haha) .. I'm thinking of the some of the smaller species like Channa-ornatipinnis, Channa bankanensis and Channa panaw. Any other species that could be recommended?
What sort of tank do the need and what sort of prices are they?
Do they need a lot of maintainence?

Tahh, Megan

 

[kewskills]

.

 

[nmonks]

Price varies from under £10 to over £100, depending on the species. Dwarf species like Channa asiatica are about 20 cm in length, and those could be easily maintained in tanks as small as 180 litres. I kept Channa asiatica years ago and it's an absolute pussycat, barely more difficult to maintain than a gourami, provided it isn't kept with fish small enough to swallow.

Channa aurantimaculata, Channa bleheri, Channa stewartii, and Channa pulchra are other examples of small species in the 15-25 cm size range, varying from basically peaceful through to somewhat territorial. Any of these would make a great starter species, though prices on them vary. At Wildwoods for example, Channa aurantimaculata cost from £80-150 depending on the size of the fish.

I happened to be up there a few days ago, and some photos are appended.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Ripley]

Most get big. I know there are some dwarf ones that stay a decent size. From what I know about them they have low maintenance, other then being a large predator. So big water changes would be a must.

 

[simonas]

I keep a few channas being Orientalis, Assam and Pulchra which are my favourite

They have been the easiest fish to keep and bizarrely enough not a fan of water changes

They eat anything that fits in their mouth, they grow very quickly and as I have found out are pretty indestructible... I had one jump out of a bucket the other day and wriggle under the tank cabinet with tumble drier fluff and dog hair, tok me a while to get him out and hes right as rain and my sons tank was killed off by a tub of palmolive hand wash being put in by my daughter and all but the orientalis survived and they're still healthy as anything

I would recommend Pulchra, I got mine off aquarist classified ads. Thye pop up a fair bit now as more and more people seem to be breding them, I paid about a fiver each for my 6 as small babies

 

[simonas]

I forgot to mention the different types

Bleheri and Assam are very similar and have stunning colouration, relatively peaceful, fairly easy to breed I understand and grow about 15cm I beieve

Orientalis I keep again slightly bulkier than the Bleheri and Assam and less colourful but I prefer them cos mine have stunning colour on fins when displaying, mine have been peaceful and easy to keep and I believe they are easy enough to breed

Pulchra a fair bit bigger to about 25-30cm and a bulkier fish. My favourite fish that I keep. Coulours are beautiful and their body shape is ace cos they look quite brutish but with lovely colouring. They're very bold as well!!

 

[fish are friends....]

Thanks for all that info.. i will have to look into it now! :, Meggggg! <3

 

[STD]

I have a assam & bleheri - only small yet but great fish

 

[england]

hehe the bug is catching, i have 4 pulchra, they are very similar to ornatipinnis, assam's have very beautiful finnage and my obscura looks so much like a "real snake" then the pleuno are just smart looking, i know someone selling ornatipinnis

 

[foley69]

all of the mentioned are the dwarf species and as stated are indestructable i just found out my mate who owns and aquatic shop had these a few years ago in a 150litre and he said they were very active and not difficult to keep and very long lived they eat all meaty foods and he said they also enjoyed to odd bit of vegatable matter that he gave his plec which is unusual so if you can get them feeding on a varaied deit but mainly bulked with meaty foods then they will colour up and grow in nect to no time.