Dr Heok Hee Ng reminds us that although these are natural predators, a few snakehead species can become acceptable community fish.
Any discussion of predatory oddball fish for the aquarium will always feature a snakehead or two. Channa are often in the limelight because they can become an aquatic invasive species. However, snakeheads do make great aquarium fish if given proper care.
Why are they called snakeheads?
They earn their name because of their flattened shape and the scales on their heads are reminiscent of the large epidermal scales on snakes.
Snakeheads are members of the family Channidae. This is a group of perciform (perch-like) fishes whose affinities are unknown. Recent studies on the molecular phylogeny of bony fishes report that snakeheads are most closely related to anabantoids and the Synbranchiform eels.
Snakeheads naturally occur from Iran and Afghanistan eastwards to China. They spread up to Siberia and south to the island of Java. Snakeheads also live in Africa from the White Nile across to the Senegal and Chad and as far south as the Congo river drainage.
Snakeheads are split cross three genera: Channa, Parachanna and Aenigmachanna.
Oxygen tolerance
One unusual feature is the snakeheads' tolerance of low oxygen levels. This is because of their paired suprabranchial chambers which are lined with respiratory epithelia (skin modified to absorb atmospheric oxygen). This enables them to use atmospheric oxygen as sub-adults and adults.
Snakeheads are in fact obligatory air breathers and must have air lest they drown. You may find the concept of a drowning fish strange, but snakeheads are not the only obligatory air breathers. Many fish have a similar biology, like walking catfishes and pirarucu (Arapaima), and they can also drown.
A common misconception is that air-breathing fish live in stagnant, relatively foul water in the wild. Fishkeepers can interpret this as clean water conditions are not necessary in the aquarium.
Some snakeheads can tolerate a wide range of conditions. Studies have shown that the dwarf, spotted and chevron snakeheads can survive for at least 72 hours in pH levels from 4.3 to 9.4. But many species fare poorly when water conditions deteriorate or undergo rapid changes, as experienced with large water changes.
Many snakeheads come from habitats where the water is soft (to 8 GH) and slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5.0 to 7.0). These values represent a suitable guide to successful maintenance for these species.
What sort of aquarium is suitable for a snakehead?
Snakeheads are fairly undemanding as regards tank décor. They are not active swimmers and, when not feeding, tend to move only when surfacing for air. They spend a lot of time hovering in midwater or resting on the bottom within cover as ambush predators. Use driftwood and aquatic vegetation to provide shelter, and include plenty of floating plants.
Snakeheads do have powerful bursts of acceleration and can knock things around in the tank or stir up substrate. For this reason gravel, not fine sand, should be the substrate of choice in any snakehead tank. Otherwise the constant stirring of finer particles could clog filters.
There is a risk of your snakehead drowning if they are denied access to the surface. With this in mind, leave enough room at the top of the fish tank for air when filling up. Note too that snakeheads are fantastic leapers so a tight-fitting cover is vital.
Snakeheads also have a deserved reputation as voracious carnivores, so you may think they need live foods. However, snakeheads enjoy meaty frozen foods such as chunks of fish and also sinking pellets.
Community choices
With such a highly carnivorous nature you may also believe adding other fishes is a recipe for disaster. However, some combinations can work to build a community of appropriate fishes around your snakehead.
Consider the size of the species and the size of the tank mates. Obviously, maintaining a school of neon tetras with snakeheads is too much of a risk. But snakeheads can be kept with fishes too large to be considered food.
For many medium-sized snakeheads (30-40cm/12-16”), tank mates should be relatively fast swimming and robust fish. Many medium-sized to large cyprinids are therefore ideal options.
Despite their predatory nature, smaller snakeheads are retiring in nature. This means they can suffer at the hands of large, aggressive cichlids.
Snakeheads also display considerable changes in colour pattern when growing. Many juveniles are more attractively marked than adults, often displaying a bright yellow to red stripe along the body. This pattern quickly disappears with age and many species assume a browner, more drab look. This sometimes leads to aquarists losing interest in the fish as it grows.
The price of love is not cheap
Price is no object for true snakehead lovers, with mark-ups for rare specimens rivalling those of arowana. The barca snakehead (Channa barca), pictured above, became one of the most expensive aquarium fish in the hobby. The first individuals imported into the UK were going at £5,000 apiece. The price has since dropped to about £1,500, as seen at Aquarama 2009 in Singapore, but that’s still a hefty outlay!
Which species is best for me?
Golden cobra snakehead (Channa aurantimaculata)
Also known as the Orange-spotted snakehead, the Golden cobra reaches about 40cm/16”. This is a relatively aggressive fish that’s best kept alone.
Coming from northern Assam in India, this species is best kept at cooler temperatures, with a cold winter period of around 10°C being suitable. Water should ideally be pH 6.0–7.0 and GH 10.
Red snakehead (Channa micropeltes)
This is also known as the giant snakehead for a good reason. Capable of 1m/39” or more, even in captivity, it is the largest snakehead species. An extremely large tank would therefore be necessary to house an adult.
Red snakeheads are also among the most aggressive snakeheads. They will attack any tank mates, even if they are larger or the snakehead is not hungry. They also have the largest teeth of all snakeheads and will use them on humans.
Although juveniles have an attractive colour pattern of a bright orange stripe running the length of the body, this rapidly fades with age and adults are a duller blue.
Channa micropeltes are not demanding and can be maintained in 20–28°C/68-82°F water. Extreme conditions should be avoided. This is a species only for the experienced fishkeeper and even then it is likely they would not be able to house an adult. Best to avoid.
Dwarf snakehead (Channa gachua)
Reaching only 20cm/7.8”, the dwarf is relatively docile and can be maintained in a community tank with other fishes that are too large to eat.
To be able to maintain a dwarf snakehead correctly, it is best to know it's origins. This species was once thought to be very widely spread across Asia but many populations are now recognised as distinct species. Each population will have adapted to the environmental conditions of the region, so matching these will be best for the fish.
For example, individuals from northern India will appreciate some cold winter months, yet fish from tropical regions will not.
Emperor snakehead (Channa marulioides)
The Emperor is capable of reaching 65cm/26”, rendering it unsuitable for the majority of aquariums.
Should you have a large enough aquarium to house this fish for life, it is best kept in water at 22-28°C/72-82°F, pH 6.0-7.0 and GH to 10.
Rainbow snakehead (Channa bleheri)
This is a small, relatively peaceful member of the dwarf snakehead complex. Channa bleheri is among the most colourful of all snakeheads and reaching about 20cm/7.8”. Rainbows will be best kept at cooler temperatures, too. So ensure you drop the temperature over winter and reduce water changes during this time.
Banka snakehead (Channa bankanensis)
Probably the most demanding snakehead with regards to water conditions.
The banka hails from blackwater habitats that are extremely acidic (pH to 2.8). While it is not necessary to keep the pH that low, it should be kept below 6. Channa bankanensis can become prone to infections when kept in water with a higher pH, and eggs are known to not develop in these conditions.
This species also does better in tannins/humic acids, so the addition of botanicals that release these into the water will help recreate a natural home.
Despite growing to only 23cm/9” the Banka is aggressive and best kept in a species tank.
Splendid snakehead (Channa lucius)
Capable of reaching to 40cm/15.7”, the Splendid is one of the larger species and care should be tailored accordingly. Channa lucius have an aggressive nature and should only be kept with large, robust tank mates — if at all. Water should ideally be 20-28°C/68-82°F, pH 5.0–6.5 and GH to 8.
Ocellated snakehead (Channa pleurophthalma)
One of the more attractive South-East Asian species. Channa pleurophthalma differs in shape from others by being more laterally compressed. Others have almost cylindrical bodies.
In the wild, C. pleurophthalma live in tinted water with a pH of 5.0-5.6. This species will readily acclimatise to pH ranges closer to neutral (6.0–7.0) in the aquarium. Maintain them in 22-28°C/72-82°F water that is not too hard (up to 8 GH).
They are a relatively peaceful species that can be kept with large, robust tank mates. A large tank is definitely required they can reach 45cm/18”.
Spotted snakehead (Channa punctata)
Native to India, the Spotted is a common species inhabiting an extensive range of habitats. As such this species can tolerate a broad range of temperatures from 9-40°C/48-104°F.
Experiments have also shown that it can tolerate a large pH range. Channa punctata do well as long as the extremes are avoided. Despite being a relative small species, the spotted snakehead is aggressive so can only be kept with large, robust tank mates, or perhaps just dedicate a tank for this snakehead.
Chevron snakehead (Channa striata)
Channa striata are one of the most robust freshwater fishes. Consequently, water parameters are insignificant, although the usual caveat of avoiding extremes still applies. This is a large species that can reach 90cm/35” and, like the red, is ill-suited for most aquarists. This species is often consumed by humans, with farms of large ponds dedicated for growing these fish.
African snakehead (Parachanna obscura)
Closely resembling C. lucius in shape and colour, Parachanna obscura can be distinguished by the long and prominent nostrils. They can reach up to 45cm/18” in length, so a large tank is a must. Water parameters for this species should be similar to the splendid, although this is reportedly a more docile species.
What can I keep with them?
Some snakeheads are best kept alone and should never be in the same tank, even with large tank mates.
Smaller to medium-sized species do well with a variety of species. Medium to large-sized cyprinids, similar-sized catfishes and non aggressive cichlids all work well.
What foods will Channa readily eat?
Live food is not essential and snakeheads readily take chunks of fish, mussels and shrimps made for human consumption. Commercial meaty foods such as sinking pellets or even commercial fish foods such as trout chow also work well.
Other, non-aquatic, live foods include earthworms, mealworms and crickets. While younger snakeheads will readily take bloodworms and krill.
How do I spawn Channa?
Spawning snakeheads is fairly easy when maintained in appropriate water conditions. Sexing most species is not easy, although the truism that females are plumper is readily applicable here.
Sometimes it is necessary to introduce several fish in the same tank to allow them to let them pair up naturally. Make sure the tank is large enough to house several comfortably, and provide ample hiding spaces to reduce aggression.
Some species will not require a trigger to breed. While others require a period of cooling, followed by a rise in temperature to simulate changing of seasons. Some brood their eggs orally while others utilise bubble nests.
Both parents typically guard the fry (which swim in a compact school) once the eggs hatch.
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