Snakehead

[xATLxBRAVESx]

Hey guys, i was wondering about owning snakeheads in the state of California or Nevada? i came across theses beautiful fish a few years back but never really thought of keeping one. i haven't been able to find them online for sale, but i was wondering if you can get them at like a pet store or something like that? if you have any info, it sure would help, thanks!

 

[clay]

i am pretty sure that they are illegal to own in the u.s. without a license. if you want something similar try bichirs.

 

[Randomitity]

Ehh they are very aggressive fish and most places I think have outlawed them in the US because of people releasing them into the wild and them taking over said places but I am not 100% sure but I doubt a pet store would sell them.

Sorry I am not much help

 

[xATLxBRAVESx]

i am pretty sure that they are illegal to own in the u.s. without a license. if you want something similar try bichirs.

My friend owns a bichir tank and they dont do much, just lay on the bottom of the tank. but thanks!

 

[clay]

in my experiance some species are very active. but on the other hand my cuviers were in a very big tank. . what are you looking for in a fish? something predatory or something flashy?

 

[xATLxBRAVESx]

in my experiance some species are very active. but on the other hand my cuviers were in a very big tank. . what are you looking for in a fish? something predatory or something flashy?

predatory

 

[clay]

well if you want predatory i would try some of the larger cichlids such as jack dempseys or oscars.you could maybe even go with some species of bass... what is the size of your tank?

 

[xATLxBRAVESx]

well if you want predatory i would try some of the larger cichlids such as jack dempseys or oscars.you could maybe even go with some species of bass... what is the size of your tank?

180g

 

[nmonks]

If you want to go with predatory fish, that's great. But we need to be clear here on whether you're looking for something that'll take commercial foods like pellets, or whether you're prepared to offer suitable fresh, frozen or live foods. It's crucial to understand that the use of goldfish, minnows and other feeders just isn't acceptable. Even if you don't think the use of live fish as food is cruel, feeder fish bought from pet stores are incredibly unsafe, an NO expert fishkeeper recommends them. If you choose a species of predatory fish that only takes live fish -- and the only ones I can think of are Chaca spp. catfish and South American leaffish -- you'll need to produce those live feeder fish at home. Typically these are juvenile livebearers, killifish or cichlids (Chaca spp. only take bottom-swimming fish, so cichlid fry are usually the only option).

Pretty much everything else can be weaned onto either live invertebrates such as worms and river shrimps, or suitable wet-frozen alternatives. The predatory fish I recommend as a good species for casual aquarists to keep is the South American freshwater barracuda, actually a characin, Ctenolucius hujeta. This species is adapted to poor-oxygen environments, and that gives it exceptional tolerance for the conditions found in most aquaria. It is also very adaptable, readily taking wet-frozen foods like tilapia fillet if offered using forceps. Earthworms are also enjoyed, and an excellent source of vitamins and minerals thanks to their herbivorous diet and mud-filled guts. They are peaceful, and get along well with each other as well as fish too large to swallow whole. Best of all, Ctenolucius hujeta is very attractive but not too big, and 2-3 specimens can easily be held in a 210 litre/55 gallon tank.

I'm making these points here because too many beginners to the hobby associated predatory fish with the mindless use of live feeder fish. Many predatory fish will live more than 10 years in captivity, and if you choose a species that only takes live food, that quickly becomes very expensive. So it's a good idea to start off thinking about what foods can afford to provide, how safe those foods will be, and then choose a predatory fish that matches your resources and budget.

Cheers, Neale

predatory