Channa Orientalis

[bagu]

hey guys

Firstly I want to thank nelly, who had kindly scouted out some orintalis but I couldn't take them but I really do appreciate it! I will hopefully be clearing out my tank inhabitants in a month; and get some channe orientalis! But first my tank

20gallon
Has UGF and a rear 3 stage filter (massive sponge, littlesponge, ceramic rings carbon and filter floss)
Been running for 6 Months with no problems =]

1) how many can I keep? Just a pair?
2) any other fish able to join them? Or is the tank too small?
3) RTP is good? So 22 EEG celcius?
4) need to cover surface with plants as they don't like too much light?


I understand channa orientalis don't love water change, so this will be kept to one 25% water change every 2 months, does that sound fine?

Thanks guys, I'm so excited lol

 

[simonas]

my orientalis tank isn;t big at all and I keep three that have been fine for about a year now, mine have spawned once with a fish keeping eggs in mouth for a couple oifdays before the disappeared, i cocked up by putting some egyptian mouthbreeders in for last month ad spwanin activity seems to have stopped but i'LL be back in to it in couple of weeks

gorgeous intersting fish if you can get them

 

[always4lora]

I'm hopefully getting some this week, the guy who is seling them has given me an article he wrote about them , he has thm at 24oC in soft water. They sound like an easy to look after fish and great for the beginner like me .

 

[bagu]

I'm hopefully getting some this week, the guy who is seling them has given me an article he wrote about them , he has thm at 24oC in soft water. They sound like an easy to look after fish and great for the beginner like me .

thanks for the help guys!

could you upload some pics for me please? in this thread here when you get them im intrigued

so i could ideally keep 3 orientalis in the 20gallon? but no other fishes at all?

 

[simonas]

Bagu I keep three in a 16 gallon tank and I personally think they are fine they lookhealthy and colourful
Always4Lora they are just about the easiest fish to keep, the hardest thing with channa is keeping them in the tank and not jumping out!!

 

[bagu]

you see ive kept Rams and other demanding fishes in my period, all alive and kicking!

i wanted a fish that would challenge me =/ i suppose the breeding and personalities of snakeheads are the challenge

 

[england]

Agreed 100% with simonas, when your getting a tank for channa,if you have not read everywhere i have written, alway's channa proof your tank, litterally any small gap/hole need's to be filled, i use thing's like a cut up tshirt and gaffa tape
Even when you have tube and cable's running through those cuts in the lid's just gaffa tape over the hole, as channa are the Houdini's of the fish world

However if your unlucky enough to have an escape artist in your group usually you should be fine providing you find it in time, these guy's can survive up to and over 24hr's out of water, however if it's stuck inside the hood with the light's it will dry up very very quickly, do not let it put you off buying channa, just a little more concideration is needed to make sure all escape route's are blocked, I find floating plant's like frogbit, salvinia minima and duckweed<grows so quick like a rash<needs alot of removing to keep under control>however this seems to stop them deciding to bail on you

Yes your tank sound's fine, sand or gravel substate with bogwood and lot's of rock's for hiding, cramming a tank full of plant's either plastic or live give's the feeling to them of where they come from, this way they will feel much more at home,

If you have a look at my tank, first page of snakehead club you will see just how crammed full it is, when i first set up with minimul plant's they seem to hide alot, once i crammed it full they were and still are out and about perminantly, you may start to notice alot of people who keep channa seem to have lower water level's. one reason is to minimise escape route's, second reason it can help induce a season much like where there from, loosing water in there habitat then one day come's the rain season, this may well induce spawning,

oh my don't i go on

 

[bagu]

Agreed 100% with simonas, when your getting a tank for channa,if you have not read everywhere i have written, alway's channa proof your tank, litterally any small gap/hole need's to be filled, i use thing's like a cut up tshirt and gaffa tape
Even when you have tube and cable's running through those cuts in the lid's just gaffa tape over the hole, as channa are the Houdini's of the fish world

However if your unlucky enough to have an escape artist in your group usually you should be fine providing you find it in time, these guy's can survive up to and over 24hr's out of water, however if it's stuck inside the hood with the light's it will dry up very very quickly, do not let it put you off buying channa, just a little more concideration is needed to make sure all escape route's are blocked, I find floating plant's like frogbit, salvinia minima and duckweed<grows so quick like a rash<needs alot of removing to keep under control>however this seems to stop them deciding to bail on you

Yes your tank sound's fine, sand or gravel substate with bogwood and lot's of rock's for hiding, cramming a tank full of plant's either plastic or live give's the feeling to them of where they come from, this way they will feel much more at home,

If you have a look at my tank, first page of snakehead club you will see just how crammed full it is, when i first set up with minimul plant's they seem to hide alot, once i crammed it full they were and still are out and about perminantly, you may start to notice alot of people who keep channa seem to have lower water level's. one reason is to minimise escape route's, second reason it can help induce a season much like where there from, loosing water in there habitat then one day come's the rain season, this may well induce spawning,

oh my don't i go on

Hi Nelly

thank you so much for that! i dont mind you going on as long as it is relevant XD

i think ill have to fill in the gaps hehe, i had one tetra get mined by jumping an inch and sucked into the powerhead
Ill defo plant it out with caves etc. the water level idea is fantastic, very cleverly thought about

Thanks alot mate!

 

[always4lora]

Get mine on thursday morning , i'll try getting pictures up on thursday for you to look at.

 

[dave_oddballs]

can i just ask why the sudden intrest in orientalis?
A couple of people talking about them now?
Very nice channa, just curious!
Talking about plants i need to refil my assam tank!

 

[england]

That would be my fault dave

some people spread the good lord's word's.. i spread the word of channa according to nelly chapter 8 verse 10

 

[simonas]

can i just ask why the sudden intrest in orientalis?
A couple of people talking about them now?
Very nice channa, just curious!
Talking about plants i need to refil my assam tank!

seeing as I'm possibly the only owner of them on here its cos of my pics!!!

No Bagu started it a cople of weeks ago

great fish though, better than those albino black eyed over priced mongrels your trying to shift on Dave!! lol

 

[dave_oddballs]

oooo nasty!
£40 would of been a good deal considering its an sp. platinum not a punctata!
Hehe
Na i think the orientalis are extremely good looking channa, i was just curious thats all!
How big do they get? Similar size to bleheri? I need to get some more bleheri actually if anyone knows of any for sale? Small ones preferably!
I think its brilliant how channa are becoming more popular! (and i meen any channa simon! Hehe) there is absolutely no reason why more people couldnt keep these fish!
They are colorful, very entertaining, stunning variety to choose from and against most peoples beliefs can make supprisingly good inhabitants in selected aquariums! What more could one need from an aquatic companion!

 

[always4lora]

Well i like them for the size at 4/5 inch theyre nice and small. They look pretty cool to
Nelly listed a few and they were on the list so looked them up and decided to give it ago . Supposed to be a good beginner Channa . Plus they're tropical

 

[bagu]

Hi guys!

sorry i haven't replied; i've been in Cambridge all day had a wicked BBQ and some bloke taught me some football tricks lol!

Anyhow! always4lora i can't wait for them! make sure you tank plenty

Dave_oddballs Simonas pretty much said it ^^ NELLY started it by saying snakeheads can be kept in a 20gallon, then Simonas nudged me on furthermore hehe

Can't wait to get everything ready; but i went to a LFS on the way back and saw a tank (same as mine) set up for cichlids; and i might do that

i want more tanks lol XD