Snakeheads

[theone]

Hi there,

I'm kind of new in the SnakeHead industrie. I'd like to have a couple of tips from the pros.

I presently have a rope fish/red fish, a Senegal Bichir, a bearded Loach, a black pleco and a rock bass in my little 25 Gallon tank.

I tried putting a SnakeHead (Channa Asiatica) in it, but excaped 2 days later. I found it 8 hours after his escape 10 feet away. I brought him back to life, but he past away thru night.

I'm getting a 77gallon tank at the end of the week. And I'm planning on transfering my existing fish, plus getting new ones.

I pretty much like Channas, but don't want them growing 3 feet. What could you suggest nowing whats already in?

I thought of an other Channa Asiatica, a Channa Bleheri, (sp assam or lal cheng/blue blehri / assam blue), Channa sp 'galaxy blue' and finnaly Channa sp. fire&ice / Ice fire.

I know that makes a lot, but these are the smallest one's I found and are really nice. Can they mix? How many should I put in max?

Eventually I'd like an Oscar and maybe a Fire Eal.

Someone has any tips for me?

I really apreciate.

P.S: the web site and forums look great!

 

[gasmask]

Hi mate.

Snakeheads are best kept alone. They are not community fish.
Also a BIG point to make it that MOST snakeheads are sub-tropical, so they will not work with any of the fish mentioned as most need really cold water.

If you plan on keeping a speicies only tank with just one breed of snakehead, I could happily advise and reccomend you many good SH.

 

[simonas]

I kept a load of channa over last couple of years still have a tank of Orientalis

I would never advocate mixing channa as I have found that the stronger of the two types will harass the other

I kept asciata and the ylook lovely when display at each other, they are sub tropical as well, however I found them rather shy and I would suggest Pulchra instead.. still subtropical but have bags of character

I kept a pulchra with an oscar with no isuues for a while whilst short of spare tank but the ylook so good in a group they pale when kept in a community

 

[always4lora]

If you're planning on getting an oscar and a fire eel a larger tank would be neeeded. The oscar will also pose a risk to some of the smaller snakeheads. Smallest snakeheads you can get are the Orientalis as far as im aware which you could put in the 25 galon , a group would most likely fit in there nicely.

 

[simonas]

If you're planning on getting an oscar and a fire eel a larger tank would be neeeded. The oscar will also pose a risk to some of the smaller snakeheads. Smallest snakeheads you can get are the Orientalis as far as im aware which you could put in the 25 galon , a group would most likely fit in there nicely.

And it just sp happens I may sell my three!!! lol

 

[theone]

If you're planning on getting an oscar and a fire eel a larger tank would be neeeded. The oscar will also pose a risk to some of the smaller snakeheads. Smallest snakeheads you can get are the Orientalis as far as im aware which you could put in the 25 galon , a group would most likely fit in there nicely.

And it just sp happens I may sell my three!!! lol

Thank you guys!

Simply to be clear, I wont be using the 25 gallon anymore. Only the 77gallon. And the temp varies between 72 and 78 degres. Ropefish, bichir and all have been in there for over a year and like this temp.

What Snakehead would be appropriate nowing the tank size and temp? And Are they maybe 2 more docile Snakes that kood mix?

And for the Eel and Oscard. Nowing it's a 77 Gallons. Would it be ok?

 

[always4lora]

Oscar would be ok in a 77 G weird size though, what are the dimensions? Fire well would get to big , you can get spiny eels they grow smaller and would fit in the tank . If you want snakeheads stick to one type is best, Orientalis only grow up to 4-5inch and would end up lunch to the oscar you could get away with one of the bigger species, but as said theyre best kept in their own tank.

My snakehead were with my senegal bichir for around 5-6 months and they got on really well , moved my senegal out though to a bigger tank.

As for docile snakeheads ? mine just hang about all the time , alot of them tend to hang about in the floating plants . Only move alot when it comes to feeding and fighting between them. One thing to note as well snakeheads tend not to like there water changing all the time.

Personally i'd go snakeheads only or go mixed comunity without them.

 

[england]

As said alot of the dwarf channa are sub tropical and there for not good for tropical communitys, also for example channa ornatipinnis which i have a pair are pretty aggressive and dont get on well with other stuff to much, I have a channa pluero and had with her a parachanna obscura together in a large community tank<150usgallon> these got on with my stock very well, best really to decide if you want community or species,you wont be upset with species,i love my snakeheads just a shame i have to sell them, welcome by the way...

ps....forgot to say channa are escape artists,any small gap they will and do get through you have to block any hole,down to gaps where filter tubing if external go,

 

[theone]

As said alot of the dwarf channa are sub tropical and there for not good for tropical communitys, also for example channa ornatipinnis which i have a pair are pretty aggressive and dont get on well with other stuff to much, I have a channa pluero and had with her a parachanna obscura together in a large community tank<150usgallon> these got on with my stock very well, best really to decide if you want community or species,you wont be upset with species,i love my snakeheads just a shame i have to sell them, welcome by the way...

ps....forgot to say channa are escape artists,any small gap they will and do get through you have to block any hole,down to gaps where filter tubing if external go,

i really appreciate the info!

I'd like to have a mix tank. By looking at youre video on photobucket, I see you have many different species of fish in the same tank. That is what I'm looking for.

Nowing that, wich channa's would be best? One, or I could afford to put 2 in?

Channa Asiatica, a Channa Bleheri, (sp assam or lal cheng/blue blehri / assam blue), Channa sp 'galaxy blue' and finnaly Channa sp. fire&ice / Ice fire.

You often mentioned Orientalis...but I very muck like the other ones.

Sorry if there's many questions, but don't want to be making mistakes!

P.S: I'm in Quebec, Canada. So if You could provide me with more than just one suggestion. Maybe tuff to get all of them over here.

Thanks!

 

[england]

yes my tanks mixed, its a 5foot/2foot/2foot....have a channa pluero and had parachanna obscura, what is your tank size,so the ones you've listed are not suitible for mixing as most being sub tropical<basically not requiring a heater where as you other fish do require heat which is not good health wise for sub tropicals...

 

[theone]

yes my tanks mixed, its a 5foot/2foot/2foot....have a channa pluero and had parachanna obscura, what is your tank size,so the ones you've listed are not suitible for mixing as most being sub tropical<basically not requiring a heater where as you other fish do require heat which is not good health wise for sub tropicals...

Ohhh, no no. They don't require a heater. I've got it in only for summer when the air conditionning is on.

The temp is around 22 degres without a heater.

Would this be sutable for channas? And witch ones?

nowing this new factor.

It's a bit of a science having nice fish. But I'll get there!

From what the seller tells me, the tank mesures 47inchx24inchx16inch
77Gallons

 

[england]

see its difficult,Channa orientalis grow to 4 inches and are tropical but would make a tasty snack for a oscar,

Channa pleurophthalma 16inch+ max.....tropical
parachanna obscura 16inch+max.....tropical
sp fluro green.....14 inches+max.....tropical
Channa harcourtbutleri.....6 inches+max.....tropical
Channa maculata......13inches+max.....tropical
Channa lucius.....16 inches+max.....tropical


These are what can tollarate heat usually from tropical climates,however keeping channa with other fish is a risky business,always ensuring your fish are 2/3rds the size of the channa atleast,if not bigger which is better,but unless your aware of channa's temperment's and ways i would really reccomend not mixing these beautys.one for the price they can cost,two because if your a channa keeper usually you will want to keep only them in a tank and breed...

heres my channa ornatipinnis breeding pair,sub tropical,see if you get the bug
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=272298&hl=
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=285237

 

[theone]

see its difficult,Channa orientalis grow to 4 inches and are tropical but would make a tasty snack for a oscar,

Channa pleurophthalma 16inch+ max.....tropical
parachanna obscura 16inch+max.....tropical
sp fluro green.....14 inches+max.....tropical
Channa harcourtbutleri.....6 inches+max.....tropical
Channa maculata......13inches+max.....tropical
Channa lucius.....16 inches+max.....tropical


These are what can tollarate heat usually from tropical climates,however keeping channa with other fish is a risky business,always ensuring your fish are 2/3rds the size of the channa atleast,if not bigger which is better,but unless your aware of channa's temperment's and ways i would really reccomend not mixing these beautys.one for the price they can cost,two because if your a channa keeper usually you will want to keep only them in a tank and breed...

heres my channa ornatipinnis breeding pair,sub tropical,see if you get the bug
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=272298&hl=
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=285237

I see that you know a lot on Orientalis!

But how about these ones? Any one?

Channa Asiatica
sp assam or lal cheng/blue blehri / assam blue),
Channa sp 'galaxy blue
Channa sp. fire&ice / Ice fire
Channa Stewartii
Channa punctata
Channa sp. true blue
Channa pulchra
Channa sp. "turquoise"


And when you say Sub-Tropical or Tropical...What exactly do you mean? Does this only have a correlation with the temp? Or also living habits?

Thanks lot! i'm learning..!

 

[always4lora]

If you are planning on keeping them with an oscar or any other normal tropical fish you will need tropical snakeheads... Sub tropical is anwhere from something like 15/16 oC -> 22oC which would be to cold for tropical fish.
The fish you're mentioning or at least some of them i know are sub tropical. I'm pretty sure Nelly's pointed out all the tropical ones for you.

I still recommend though either get snakeheads in a tank by themself or dont get any.

 

[england]

Channa Asiatica----14 inches+max....18-24c 24c only being tolarated for short periods...sub tropical

sp assam or lal cheng/blue blehri / assam blue),----sub tropical 6-8inch+ max

Channa sp 'galaxy blue---see stewartii

Channa sp. fire&ice / Ice fire---sub tropical not sure on max size ask <GASMASK>

Channa Stewartii-----11inches+max.....18-24c again sub tropical

Channa punctata---12 inches+max....this one is very difficult..try and find out where your fish comes from to be able to provide the best possable care pH know to be able to stand a very wide ph range from ph 4.3 - 9 somewhere in the middle of this would be a good place to aim for,same as temp some being tropical and others sub tropical....


Channa sp. true blue---same as stewartii

Channa pulchra----max around 11+inch.....sub tropical

Channa sp. "turquoise"---same as stewartii