Update On The Emperors

[gasmask]

Here is a new update on my 3 Channa Marulioides.
Since December when I got them, they have shot up in length.
Though they are still young and no where near full size, the biggest of the 3 is about 12". Not bad for 4 months huh!

The bigger of the three (I suspect a female)has started sprouting flowers now and seems to have paired up with one of the other two, so thinks it is time to move or sell number 3 asap!

Here are some pics:

When I got them(around 13th Dec):

This is as of today:

*WARNING FOR POTENTIAL BUYERS OF MARULIOIDES*
There is always this thing about Marulioides being pretty easy going Snakeheads, and this is true of Marulioides I have kept in the past.
Though this new "Blue" variant that seems to be going around I believe are not so "community" friendly.
I had planned on this being a community tank, but due to them killing and eating a 7" Black Arowana (my fault, should have grew it out more), Killing a 12" Shortnose Gar and killing a 9" Oscar I have decided against this.

These guys DO NOT like anything mid to upper level in their tank. All my bottom to mid dwellers have no probs whatsoever, So I have decided to make this a Snakehead/Polypterus tank. (looks like I need to start a 2nd Poly collection!)

Cheers for looking!
(will update in 3 months)

 

[kniesh]

Very nice this. Love the look you have with this tank and the very nice Snakeheads are very nice, tried assams myself not too long ago and think I might invest in a larger one for my 6x2x2 community if I can find a suitable one.

 

[gasmask]

Very nice this. Love the look you have with this tank and the very nice Snakeheads are very nice, tried assams myself not too long ago and think I might invest in a larger one for my 6x2x2 community if I can find a suitable one.

You could get on well with one of these in a 6x2x2.
On their own Emperors are very docile, and will get on with most fish that are not "snack sized".
Awesome snakeheads, and standard tropical temps are fine, so communities can work!

 

[rdp50734]

looking great! I just need a bigger tank!

 

[dave_oddballs]

im toying with the idea of a single bigger channa to go into my 7x2.5x2, but it would have to be tropical and it would have to get on with my other fish. i think the rocket gar and characin would have to go, but i could deal with that!

very nice snakeheads, what is there max size? about 2.5 foot? what do you think a big channa would be like with rays?

its good that they get along with the polys, will make for a very nice set up, shame about the black arowana was a stunner that!

 

[england]

dam sorry to hear bout the strife buddy, but yes i have found that they wont even bother with any fish on the bottom of the floor, pluero seem in my humble opinion to be very placid,iam unsure how if they were kept in a group they would act, as pluero are supposed to be pack hunters like wolves i think it then could be different, maybe iam lucky, she never bothers anything,<as of yet> theres also another on a forum who has a single 14inch male in a community with no problems....to dave oddball serious mate try pluero they are placid when singular and stunning to look at and best bit<tropical>>hehe....up until i got the pain oscar i had four 5ish inch pictus in with her without any beef...

 

[simonas]

can an auratus go with larger fish in a large community tank as they are my favourite large channa. beautiful fish

 

[kniesh]

Very nice this. Love the look you have with this tank and the very nice Snakeheads are very nice, tried assams myself not too long ago and think I might invest in a larger one for my 6x2x2 community if I can find a suitable one.

You could get on well with one of these in a 6x2x2.
On their own Emperors are very docile, and will get on with most fish that are not "snack sized".
Awesome snakeheads, and standard tropical temps are fine, so communities can work!

Thanks, think i will definately look out for one of these for my tank, picked up a Senegal Bichir, Red Shoulder Severum an a 8" Fire Eel today, to be some of its mates. The Eel was £17, bargain I thought.

 

[gasmask]

@ Daveoddballs:
Marulioides will be fine with Rays, as they don't bother any mid/lower level fish from my experience. And yup 2.5'-3' is max size, 2.5' being more likely.
And they are tropical. As Nelly said, there is also the option of Pleuros though I know little about these other than the basics but as you can see from Nellys pics they look gorgeous.

@simonas:
Of all my fish, my Aurantis are also my favorite Channa. They get to around 14", and colors look awesome. BUT they are sub tropical, and very aggressive towards ANYTHING IMO.

 

[gasmask]

New update.

Of the 3, The 2nd female has now gone to a new home as the remaining female and male have completely paired up.
The bigger female is now at the 14".

I love these fish, great to watch and even better to feed!

I am hoping to get the full 26-28" out of these guys. I rekon that would look awesome.

Here's some new pics: (not the greatest of shots, room and tank are very dimly lit at the moment)

 

[rdp50734]

they look stunning!

 

[england]

Agreed, bea---utiful...your doing a grand job buddy, they put on some growth since december

 

[gasmask]

Agreed, bea---utiful...your doing a grand job buddy, they put on some growth since december

Tell me about it!
The growth rate is insane!

Thanks for the compliments guys

 

[england]

Shame you wasnt in Dorset,you could have had my beautiful pluero

Think a full photoshoot of your channa stocks over due

 

[gasmask]

Shame you wasnt in Dorset,you could have had my beautiful pluero

Think a full photoshoot of your channa stocks over due

Yeah, should get round to it sometime!

My 4 pleuros juvis I got a few weeks back, 1 kicked the bucket for no obvious reason.
The other 3 are doing well and looks like a pair is forming.
I'm trying to get a female/male ID on these guys.
What you rekon Nelly?

Here is the posible pair:

Not the clearest of pics, but one has 3 spots, a lot bluer and smaller. The other is more golden, bigger and has 2 spots. Head shape on the bigger one is slightly more "square-ish".