Edit Channa diplogramma
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Name
Scientific name
Channa diplogramma
Described by
Authority Day, Year 1865, Bracketed
Family
Channidae
Common names
Malabar Snakehead
Photograph credits
All 6 credited
Summary
The Malabar snakehead, Channa diplogramma, is a large snakehead endemic to the southern Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India. Trea…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
480mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Not recorded
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 22–32°C, pH 6–8
Hardness
2–20dGH
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
India, Achankovil, Manimala, Meenachil, Pamba, Thamirabarani, Chittar (Tamil Nadu)
Writing
Etymology
Channa: from the Latin channe, used to refer to an unspecified species of sea perch. diplogramma: from the Greek διπλός (diplós), meaning 'twofold, double', an…
Distribution
Endemic to southern parts of the Western Ghats mountains in southern India with records existing from the Meenachil, Manimala, Pampa, Achenkovil and Kallada ri…
Habitat
Not written yet
Aquarium size
Suitable only for public installations or the very largest private aquaria.
Maintenance
Relatively unfussy although some surface cover in the form of floating or overhanging vegetation or branches is appreciated. Unlike most Channa spp. it's pelag…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
An obligate predator which probably feeds on smaller fishes, amphibians and terrestrial insects in nature but in most cases adapts well to dead alternatives in…
Behaviour and compatibility
Best-maintained in a species-specific aquarium. Juveniles and subadults are relatively peaceful with one another but become aggressive when they reach sexual m…
Sexual dimorphism
Not written yet
Reproduction
Not written yet
Notes
This species was considered synonymous with the Indochinese congener C. micropeltes for over a century before being revalidated in 2011. It can be told apart f…
References
References
3 on this profile