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

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…

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 captivity.

Some specimens even accept dried foods though these should never form the staple diet.

Young fish can be offered chironomid larvae (bloodworm), small earthworms, chopped prawn and suchlike while adults will accept strips of fish flesh, whole prawns/shrimp, mussels, etc.

This species should not be fed mammalian or avian meat such as beef heart or chicken since some of the lipids contained in these cannot be properly metabolised by the fish and may cause excess fat deposits and even organ degeneration.

Similarly there is no benefit in the use of 'feeder' fish such as livebearers or small goldfish which carry with them the risk of parasite or disease introduction and at any rate tend not have a high nutritional value unless properly conditioned beforehand.

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Where does this come from?

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.

Web address

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

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Anything worth adding

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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

3 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