Edit Channa asiatica
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Name
Scientific name
Channa asiatica
Described by
Authority Linnaeus, Year 1758, Bracketed
Family
Channidae
Common names
Chinese Snakehead
Photograph credits
All 6 credited
Summary
The Chinese snakehead, Channa asiatica, is a snakehead native to central and southern China and northern Vietnam. One of several Channa lac…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
350mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 100 cm, Minimum depth 40 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 15–25°C, pH 6–8
Hardness
5–25dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Species tank only
Social needs
A pair
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
China, Vietnam, Bei, Dong, Red, Xi, Xun, Yangtze, Yuan, Zhu
Writing
Etymology
Channa: from the Latin channe, used to refer to an unspecified species of sea perch. asiatica: named for its type locality.
Distribution
Native to central and southern China and northern Vietnam. In China the Yangtze River appears to represent the northern limit of its range, and to the south it…
Habitat
A generalist which has been collected in many different types of habitat although it does tend to avoid very fast-flowing water and is often associated with hu…
Aquarium size
An aquarium with base measuring at least 100 ∗ 40 cm is recommended. Water depth is less important but should not be less than 30 cm.
Maintenance
Like most smaller Channa species it prefers a dimly-lit aquarium with plenty of cover in the form of live plants, driftwood branches, terracotta pipes, plant p…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
An obligate predator feeding mostly on smaller fishes and insects in nature but in most cases adapting well to dead alternatives in captivity. Offer a meaty di…
Behaviour and compatibility
Best-maintained in a species-specific aquarium. It can be kept in a group while young but once a pair has formed and established dominance the remaining fish w…
Sexual dimorphism
Males develop more-extended dorsal and anal fins and possess a far greater number of silvery spots on the body and fins than females. Adult females tend to app…
Reproduction
If a pair is well fed they will usually breed at least once a year once they have reached a size of about 18 cm. The male and female will embrace in a manner s…
Notes
This species is one of several in the genus to lack pelvic fins but can be distinguished from all of them by its colour pattern consisting of vertical black ba…
References
References
3 on this profile