Rainbow Snakehead

[crayfishjamie]

Hi all, im new to the forum, i was thinking of buying a rainbow snakehead because they only grow to about 8inches, i have a 4 inch blue crayfish in the tank and would the snakehead attack and eat it? Its a 4 foot tank and the crayfish is aggressive.
Thanks.
Jamie

 

[Ronananator]

personally i would say the blue cray fish are way to fast for the rainbow to catch and i am pritty sure crayfish got a hard shell right ? sooo im sure they will be fine i would just have a back up tank ready if something does go wrong and one of them attackes the other

happy fish keeping

 

[XXX4]

The Crayfish is a snakeheads food of choice in captivity. The tank makes them very aggressive and will stop at nothing to get in the shell of the crayfish.

 

[gasmask]

Having kept many Channa Bleheri (even bred them), I can tell you they are the LEAST aggressive of all snakeheads.
They really don't live up to the "Snakehead" reputation, so the Crayfish should be fine (depending on it being too big to directly fit in SHs mouth.

I know nothing about Crayfish, are they sub-tropical?
Remember Bleheri are sub-tropical and thrive in 18-20c water.

 

[crayfishjamie]

Thanks
for the replies, the cray fish are tropical and are very interesting creatures and easy to keep, i had a freashwater puffer that was tiny and that attacked one of my crayfish as soon as i put him in the tank. Ok so i now have to decide whether to get the snakehead, whats the best food for him?
Thanks
Jamie

 

[gasmask]

Well bad move then, as I said, Rainbows are SUB TROPICAL.
They do not tolerate tropical water temps.

Best food would be pellets.

 

[always4lora]

Well bad move then, as I said, Rainbows are SUB TROPICAL.
They do not tolerate tropical water temps.

Best food would be pellets.

As with a lot of advise given on forums people decide what they want and do it regardless of advise given. Hence why there are many large fish living in un-ideal conditions.

 

[crayfishjamie]

Well at the aquatic shop they have the snakehead at a temp of 78f which is the same as the crayfish so should be ok, and this snakehead is one of the smaller ones at 8 inch when fully grown so the tank is plenty big enough for him i would say. I live in wales in the uk by the way.

 

[gasmask]

Never assume how an LFS is keeping fish must be "OK".
Most LFS are not prepared to cool a tank for sub tropical fish as they usually don't even know, and expect the fish to not be in the tanks long anyway!

Fact is like most dwarf snakeheads they are sub-tropical, and it is VERY important.

They will survive a while in tropical waters, but they will not be happy or active and are very prone to bacterial infections in warmer water.

Rainbows are especially beautiful fish and when kept in optimal conditions (sub tropical, very well established water and lots of heavy plant cover) they are stunning.
Here is a picture of my Pair that bred a few times:

I can promise you Bleheri will NOT look anywhere near as nice as those unless kept in conditions that I stated above, and in SPECIES only tank.

 

[crayfishjamie]

They do look stunning i must say, so what kind of temp will they thrive in?

 

[gasmask]

They do look stunning i must say, so what kind of temp will they thrive in?

The pair in that photo are in 18c water.
PH is 6.0
Kettapang leaves added for breeding.
Breeding tank is 90cm x 45cm x 45cm.
They are the only occupants of the tank.

My male colors up like crazy when in breeding mode, I have read this color rush has something to do with what ever the Kettapang leaves leech into the water.

 

[crayfishjamie]

The only thing is the shop only has one snakehead so will it be ok on his own or should i try to get 2 together?

 

[gasmask]

The only thing is the shop only has one snakehead so will it be ok on his own or should i try to get 2 together?

With Channa, a pair is always more desirable.
It's not as easy as putting 2 fish together though, they are very picky about who they pair up with.

Normally it will involve getting around 6, hoping for 3male 3 female (or at least 2 of each sex) and waiting (and hoping) for a pair to form.
Once a pair forms WWIII breaks out and the pair will try to kill all the other fish, which you then remove and give away or sell on.

1 Channa on it's own is a little pointless IMO.

 

[crayfishjamie]

Picked him up this morning and he is settling in ok, feeding already on bloodworm and even flake, he is an awesome fish, crayfish is not happy at all with him but i think he has met his match, i have dropped the temp in the tank to about 18c, so hopefully he will be ok.
Thanks for all your input.
Jamie

 

[gasmask]

You only got the one?
You should try order a few more quick before it stakes a territory.
These fish really are much more interesting in groups or pairs.

But congrats on the purchase, get a picture posted ASAP!