Breeding/keeping Snakeheads Together

[severum boy]

There is an opportunity to get some Channa ornatipinnis and with the upcoming import restriction me and john have decided to give breeding a shot.

Has anyone got any information that we can use on breeding species that are similar or keeping them in the same tank (which is obviously needed for them to pair off).

Thanks!

 

[CFC]

You will need a large tank with loads of plants (plastic or real) and decore to keep them in a group and at least 6 individuals to spread aggression between the group.

I havent read any details on breeding this species but i would imagine that like with other snakehead species the hard part is getting a pair and once they have formed a bond they will breed every 6 months or so without much prompting provided you keep the female in good condition.

 

[DarkEntity]

There are a few reports that they have been bred in Germany. More worrying is that once the import stocks have gone thats it....apparently thre is already an import ban on these fish similar to the true Zebra Plecs.

 

[severum boy]

Thanks to the both of you.
John and I were thinking of rearing them seperatly in different tanks until they hit about 5-6" and the sexual differences become apparent, but then, does anyone have any idea how big they grow? Some sources say 10", but I would have assumed that it would be closer to about 6-7".
Would a 4ft be needed for a pair? Or would a 3ft work?

 

[OohFeeshy]

The risk with growing them up a bit is at that size they can easily kill each other if they don't want to pair. Are there any sexual differences?

 

[CFC]

You will need to rear them all together as a group in order to get a pair, snakeheads are extreemly unsociable and trying to introduce adult fish to each other will almost certainly end in disaster. As for size these aren't a dwarf species in the same sense as gachua or bleheri, they don't reach huge sizes but you can expect them to get to about 12 inches, i would think a 4x2x2 would be the bare minimum for keeping a pair and a 5x2x2 for a group of 6.

 

[severum boy]

The risk with growing them up a bit is at that size they can easily kill each other if they don't want to pair. Are there any sexual differences?

According to what I have read, males have enlarged cheeks to help with mouthbrooding the young, like most of the gachua group (the snakeheads with bars on their pectoral fins).

You will need to rear them all together as a group in order to get a pair, snakeheads are extreemly unsociable and trying to introduce adult fish to each other will almost certainly end in disaster. As for size these aren't a dwarf species in the same sense as gachua or bleheri, they don't reach huge sizes but you can expect them to get to about 12 inches, i would think a 4x2x2 would be the bare minimum for keeping a pair and a 5x2x2 for a group of 6.

Thanks CFC, thats "good" to know.
Any ideas as to their sociability with other fish? Same as others in the group? Or more aggressive?

 

[CFC]

As tankmates small Channa usually work out well housed with other large but not hyper aggressive fish, however should a pair form and start to breed all hell will break loose and they will have to be removed and housed alone.

 

[mark7616]

Do you know of a guy called Pascal Antler he is very knowledgable on Snakeheads he keeps all his snakeheads in species only tanks and removes them as pairs form I believe for successfull breeding this to be the only way really as its not as easy as just add water and wait and see.

 

[severum boy]

As tankmates small Channa usually work out well housed with other large but not hyper aggressive fish, however should a pair form and start to breed all hell will break loose and they will have to be removed and housed alone.

So the same sort of tank mates as my gachua for instance? But scale them up when they get adult?

Do you know of a guy called Pascal Antler he is very knowledgable on Snakeheads he keeps all his snakeheads in species only tanks and removes them as pairs form I believe for successfull breeding this to be the only way really as its not as easy as just add water and wait and see.

Ive not heard of him. Id guess there are parallels between breeding snakeheads and breeding aggressive cichlids with no sexual differences then. *goes off to research*.

 

[DarkEntity]

Pascal has a group of 10cm Ornatipinnis and as yet cant see any sexual differences, looks like this will be a wait and see fish

 

[kewskills]

Pascal has a group of 10cm Ornatipinnis and as yet cant see any sexual differences, looks like this will be a wait and see fish

You can definitely sex them when they get to about 7". Jelly has 3 and there is a significant difference in head shape as they appear to be a mouthbrooders also the female appears to be less colourful, male appears to have much more blue on fins and sides of head

 

[severum boy]

Im not sure what sizes we are getting, John is sorting that part of the deal out, but I know a few members on here are looking to get some too.

Does anyone know of any particularly good websites or books that document breeding in the smaller snakeheads? Ive been researching, but I dont know if what im looking at has worked for people or if it is a load of old rubbish.

 

[DarkEntity]

Im not sure what sizes we are getting, John is sorting that part of the deal out, but I know a few members on here are looking to get some too.

Does anyone know of any particularly good websites or books that document breeding in the smaller snakeheads? Ive been researching, but I dont know if what im looking at has worked for people or if it is a load of old rubbish.

For most if not all snakeheads its buy a group of infants and let them grow up together, once they get to a certain age they will pair off. At this point the 2 will spend all day with each other, follow each other about and generally pair off. Depending on the species some are mouth brooders others are nesters...all depends on species.

 

[Jelly]

Generally the method with snakeheads is to get a group, six is usually the magic number. I am going to try it with less.

They a reported to come from fairly rocky shallow waters as little as 20cm with a bit of flow and a cooler temp. 22C being the recomended max. They probably prefer it a little cooler. I am not sure these guys have been bred yet. The Germans are usually ahead of us on the breeding front but I have not heard anything yet.

Normally subtropical Snakeheads from this type of locality, up in the hills, go through seasonal temp changes so Ornatipinnis may require a cooler temp 15C for a period of time then an increase to kickoff the breeding cycle. This is a theory of mine that has no scientific or factual backing that I have found. Yet....

It's worth mentioning that my Ornatipinnis are the most aggresive snakeheads I have ever had. My big male goes for your hands (kewskills will back this up), My Python syphon and my little girls fingers, she won't feed him now. Great charactor.