Snakeheads

This species was available in the aquarium hobby for a number of years prior to description and continues to be traded under various names including C. sp. 'Lal Cheng', C. sp. 'Assam', C. sp. 'blue bleheri', C. sp. 'himalayanus', and C. sp. 'red'. The names of valid, but distinct, congeners such as C. amphibeus, C. bleheri or C. stewartii have also been misapplied to it.

C. bleheri is a popular aquarium fish though it remains unclear whether collection for the ornamentaol trade is having a detrimental effect on wild populations (see 'Habitat'). It's one of several genus members to lack pelvic fins and can be further distinguished from other Channa species by the following combination of characters: sides of lower jaw with one large cycloid scale; lateral line complete with 46-50 scales; 14 pectoral-fin rays; 25 anal-fin rays; 4-11 irregular reddish orange markings on the caudal-fin

Generally considered to have an enormous natural range extending from Iran to Taiwan and Bali, with records existing from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. However there exists significant evidence to suggest that C. gachua as currently understood represents a complex of similar-looking species, and a taxonomic review of the group is clearly required.

Endemic to southwestern Sri Lanka where it appears restricted to the so-called ‘wet zone’ (see 'Habitat'). Confirmed localities are all within the Bentota and Kelani river systems and Kottawa Forest Reserve in Galle district, Southern Province. Type locality is given simply as 'Habitat in India orientale' and this appears to have caused confusion regarding the species' distribution with it of...

No bubble nest is built and several thousand eggs simply float at the surface with both male and female remaining to defend the eggs and fry. The eggs hatch after 24-36 hours depending on temperature and the fry are free swimming in a further 24 hours. At this point they resemble 6-7 mm long black tadpoles. It is important to constantly feed...

This species is also traded as 'golden cobra snakehead' and is available in the aquarium trade on a regular basis. It can be distinguished from other Channa species by the following combination of characters: 51-54 lateral line scales; 45-47 dorsal-fin rays; 28-30 anal-fin rays; 8-12 cheek scales; 50-52 total verte...

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...

Prefers a dimly-lit aquarium with plenty of cover in the form of live plants, driftwood branches, terracotta pipes, plant pots, etc., arranged to form a network of nooks, crannies, and shaded spots. Surface vegetation such as Ceratopteris spp. is also appreciated and makes the fish less inclined to conceal themselves.

This species can be told apart from the similar-looking congener C. baramensis (once considered synonymous with C. melasoma) by absence (vs. presence) of a black spot in the centre of numerous body scales and absence (vs. presence in specimens larger than 120 mm SL) of a barred caudal-fin pattern.

Channa pleuropthalma

This unidentified species first appeared in the aquarium trade during 2009. It's easily told apart from similar-looking congeners by the patches of vivid red pigmentation surrounding the eye and sides of the mouth plus the thick, reddish, marginal band in the caudal-fin.

Following Bonou and Teugels (1985), P. africana can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: colour pattern unique, comprising a series of 8-11 dark, chevron-shaped markings extending along the body posterior to the pectoral fins; 19-24 scales in the transverse series; lateral line complete with 73-83 pored scales; 45-48 dorsal-fin rays 45-48; 32-35 anal-fin rays.

This fish is spawned very infrequently in captivity but some reports have been made. Fish are sexually mature from 4" and a pair should be obtained by growing on a group of youngsters and allowing a pair to form naturally. Once this occurs the other fish will most likely be eliminated so it is wise to be vigilant in order to avoid uneccessary losses. Apparently courtship occurs in an open section of water surrounded by floating plant material. The courtship consists of the fish circling ...

This species is largely unsuitable for the home aquarium given its eventual size and natural behaviour, and we know of only a handful of private aquarists with the facilities required to house it long-term. It's currently illegal to import or own the species in the United States, United Kingdom and several other countries unless in possession of an official license.

This species was considered a synonym of Channa melasoma for a number of years prior to its revalidation by Ng. et al. (1996). Specimens larger than around 120 mm SL can be distinguished by possession of a black spot in the centre of numerous body scales and a barred caudal-fin pattern, characters which are missing in both C. melasoma and the similar-looking C. cyanospilos.

Has been observed to inhabit vertical burrows around the margins of wetlands which typically become dry during winter months. These burrows are most often around a metre dee...

This species was considered synonymous with the Indochinese congener C. micropeltes for over a century before being revalidated in 2011. Like in C. micropeltes colour pattern varies depending on the age of the fish. Juveniles possess two longitudinal black stripes on the head and body with the are...

This species is often confused with the nominal congeners C. marulius (Hamilton, 1822) and C. melanoptera (Bleeker, 1855) with all three presenting taxonomic problems. For example, C. marulioides exhibits a number of variations in colour pattern depending on collection locality with the most common possessing a brownish base colour with a series of dark, chevron-like markings along each flank and some scales margined posteriorly in white.

This species is also referred to as 'giant', 'great', 'cobra', or 'Indian' snakehead. Although currently-considered to be distributed throughout much of southern Asia it is widely-accepted to represent a complex of related species in need of additional research. A number of geographical variants exhibiting diffe...

C. micropeltes is also referred to as 'Indonesian', 'red', or 'redline' snakehead, the latter names in reference to the appearance of juveniles which often appear in the ornamental trade despite its unsuitability for home aquaria. It is somewhat hyperbolised in the media as a fearsome, invasive "monster" fish with a reputation for killing more fish than it can eat, and even the occasional human, although in reality...

Based on its colour pattern and limited details regarding its natural habitat this species may be adapted to dwelling between and under rocks. Alipurduar lies in the moist tropical region of floodplains and foothills of the eastern Himalayas commonly referred to as the Dooars or Duars, traditionally considered the gateway to Bhutan.

This species is frequently confused with C. argus but can be distinguished by the following characters: dorsal-fin rays 38-45 (vs. 47-50 in C. argus); anal fin rays 26-29 (vs. 31-36); lateral line scales 50-56 (vs. 60-66); 2-3 rounded blotches on caudal peduncle (vs. no blotches on caudal peduncle). It is widely-distributed in Pacific coastal drainages of southeastern China (e.g. the Yangtze, Minjiang, Hangjiang River, and Pearl (Nanjiu...

Channa stewartii