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Channa micropeltes, Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1831
Red
Snakehead
Origin:India,
Thailand, Burma, vietnam, West- Malaysia, Indonesia; Sunda islands(probably imported
as a food fish).
Etymology: micropeltes=
Synonyms: Ophiocephalus micropeltes, Ophiocephalus serpentinus, Ophicephalus micropeltes, Ophicephalus stensi.
First import: Unk.
Description: See picture, older animals loose the attractive red, and have a beige body with a thick dark line where the red used to be, and dark spots on the back.
Care: Large tank, minimum twice the body size. Strong glass is required since the fish are incredibly strong. Can be kept in pairs if the fish are willing to accept one another. Cannot be kept with other fish!! Very good filtration is required, as well as frequent waterchanges.
Temperature:20-30 degrees.
Feeding: Large amounts of large live food twice a week. The fish can be accustomed to meat strips.
Size: Up to 100 cm
pH: 6.0-7.5
Breeding: Can only be done with smaller animals. If fed well and the water is clean, a rise in temperature will usually induce spawning. Be carefull when handling the tank, the fish will defend the eggs ferociously.
Sexual dimorphism: None, females are a bit larger and fuller than the males. If two fish get along they're bound to be a couple.
Prices: Juveniles 4€
Additional: The fish are usually not accepted at zoo's.........................
Picture references: Picture 1: P. J. Taheij. Picture 2: M. Rosenstein, FINS.
References:Baensch, H. A., Riehl, R.(1982): Aquarien Atlas I. Mergus Verlag, Melle, Germany.(click on the link to buy this book)Kottelat, M., A.J. Whitten, S.N. Kartikasari and S. Wirjoatmodjo, 1993. Freshwater fishes of Western Indonesia and Sulawesi. Periplus Editions, Hong Kong
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