Edit Channa burmanica

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Name

Scientific name

Channa burmanica

Described by

Authority Chaudhuri, Year 1919

Family

Channidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 5 credited

Summary

Channa burmanica is a snakehead that appears endemic to the headwaters of the Ayeyarwady in northern Myanmar, known only from the Mali Hka …

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

200mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 10–22°C, pH 6–8

Hardness

2–20dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Not recorded

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Myanmar, Ayeyarwady, Mali Hka, Nam Kiu, Sen-Bin-Ti

Writing

Etymology

Channa: from the Latin channe, used to refer to an unspecified species of sea perch. burmanica: named for Burma, the historic name for the Republic of the Unio…

Distribution

Appears endemic to headwaters of the of the Ayeyarwaddy/Irrawaddy River in northern Myanmar, between the Kumon and Shan-ngaw mountain ranges, although the full…

Habitat

Few details are available but Putao is in northern Myanmar, close to the eastern tip of the Himalayas, and surrounded by snow-capped mountains with a monsoon-i…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with base dimensions of at least 120 ∗ 45 cm is recommended. Water depth is less important but should not be less than 30 cm.

Maintenance

Prefers a dimly-lit aquarium with a layer of surface vegetation such as Ceratopteris spp. plus some submerged cover. It's essential to use a tightly-fitting ho…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

An obligate predator which probably feeds on smaller fishes and insects in nature but in most cases adapts well to dead alternatives in captivity. Some specime…

Behaviour and compatibility

Not written yet

Sexual dimorphism

Not written yet

Reproduction

Not written yet

Notes

This species is exceptionally rare in the aquarium trade although its name has been applied to other members of the genus including an unidentified fish also k…

This species is exceptionally rare in the aquarium trade although its name has been applied to other members of the genus including an unidentified fish also known as C. sp. 'fire and ice'.

It's one of several genus members to lack pelvic fins and following Chaudhuri (1919) also has 51 lateral line scales, 38 dorsal-fin rays, 28 anal-fin rays, 12 caudal-fin rays, 15 predorsal scales, pectoral-fins with alternating dark and light bands, and white-tipped dorsal and anal fin rays.

Observation of aquarium specimens also suggests that possession of orangey-brown patches of colour between the eye and upper lip on either side of the head is also a typical character in this species.

Members of the family Channidae are commonly referred to as 'snakeheads' due to possession of large scales on the head of most species which are reminiscent of the epidermal scales (cephalic plates) on the heads of snakes.

There currently exist over 30 valid species but diversity within the group is likely to prove significantly greater.

The existence of distinct phylogenetic groups has been proposed with the putative C. gachua species assemblage of Britz (2008) containing C. orientalis, C. gachua, C. bleheri, C. burmanica, C. barca, C. aurantimaculata, and C. stewartii.

Species from northeastern India have also been divided into the C. marulius and C. gachua groups (Vishwanath and Geetakumari, 2009)[3], but C. burmanica was not included in the analysis.

All Channa spp. possess supplementary breathing apparatus in the form of paired suprabranchial chambers located behind and above the gills, although these are not labyrinthic but lined with respiratory epithelium.

These chambers allow the fish to breathe atmospheric air and survive in hypoxic conditions or even out of the water for a considerable period of time, and in aquaria they are often seen rising to the surface to take gulps of air.

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My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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Year

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References

5 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References