New Channa Micropeltes Species

[intrxz]

Bought this fella 2 years back at a local aquarium shop about 10" in size. Currently approx. 3ft in size. Unlike common channa mircopeltes which have long black vertical stripe band and black stripes above the back but this fella is gold in colour with artistic stripes across the body. Until today I couldnt identified what kind of species of channa it belongs and previously I have submitted the photo to www.snakeheads.org (http://www.snakeheads.org) and jean francios for identification but until today there's no specific scientific name found for this species. Anyone mind to shed some light. Thanks

[JardiniBoy]

I cannot shed any light as to whether it's a new species or simply a color variant of c. micropeltes, all I can say is ... WOW! What an awesome beast of a fish.

3' ... ?!? What do you feed him?

[intrxz]

Thanks for replying jardiniboy..i did search around at other aquariums in other states in my country for this species but until today I couldnt find one. I did inquired the aquarium shop which I bought it 2 years ago where he got this fella and the owner told me a local aborigine living in the deep remote jungle hauled it with a net near a river and then sold it to a middle man then end up in his shop. I did made a couple of trips down the place he mentioned and showed around the photo to the locals there who used to fish near that river and I was informed that so far they have not seen this species before.

For your info. I'm have other channa as well..such as channa maruloides, marulia, micropeltes and even giant gourami and a recently bought a wallago leerii...I fed this fella with small drain guppies when it's small and as he grew bigger I fed it with frogs and now small river fish as as cichlid genus (talapia)

[Bsixxx]

damn very nice


a long time ago i had one that resembled that kinda but it still had the black verticle strpes


what size tank is that beast call home?

[intrxz]

4 ft x 2 ft glass tank..with filter pump. Top tank cover with mesh wire/wooden frame cover

[Bsixxx]

nice,

anytankmates?

[intrxz]

previously paired it with red tail catfish and they got along for 2 months subsequently red tail catfish was mauled to death when i was away working. following i paired it with a same size common channa micropeltes and it's killed also. guess this fella wants to be lone ranger..

[danny]

wow nice fish, i have never seen markings like that befour,could it be a cross bread??(hybrid)

[Lupin]

That snakehead looks great. Thanks for sharing, intrxz.:)

[intrxz]

maybe...crossbred in the wild..nature take it's course...

[estuary]

awsome beastie

[plausible]

it could be some kind of colour morph in your channa there a thread about it Quote:
Originally Posted by oddball

Check out my thread for pic examples:

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/fo...ad.php?t=38534 (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38534)


Fish Coloration Terms & Definitions
This is off the top of my head. Please let me know what I've missed.

Albino: Lacking pigment.

Amelanistic: lacking melanin (black pigment).

Aposematic: Warning coloration.

Chromophores: Cells responsible for holding pigment.
Xanthophores: produce yellow pigment.
Erythrophores: produce red pigment.
Melanophores: produce black pigment (melanin).
Iridophores: Hold no color pigment but, hold highly reflective non-motile purine crystals that yield silver irridescent reflections.
Leucophores: Hold no color pigment. Motile purine crystals produce white pigment.
Cyanophores: produce blue pigment.

Erythristic: Predominantly red morph.

Flavistic: Sepia-toned background color.

Leucistic: lacking or mostly lacking chromatophores. Not a true albino (ie: colored eyes).

Melanistic: dark or near black (some markings can still be visible).

Piebald: Having patches of white.

Polymorphic: Having a natural variation within a single species. (eg: blue motoro ray is a polymorph of the standard non-blue motoro ray)

Tyrosinase-Negative Albinism: An albino whose cells lack tyrosinase (enzyme that synthesizes melanin) yielding a pale-white to creamy animal with pink eyes.

Tyrosinase-Positive Albinism: Synthesizes tyrosinase but, not melanin yielding a fawn or lavender (platinum) color.

Xanthic: Predominantly yellow color morph.

[mercury904]

post some more pix! illuminate it well thanx

[KRSwop1]

I remember reading something on another forum about a different varient of Micropeltes. I don't remember what the name of the varient was though. I'll try to find out for you. I remember that it did have a similar pattern to yours, and it had a lot more irridescent blues, purples and greens on it. Looks like that's what you have. Very nice channa. More pics please.

[KRSwop1]

I think it might be a Jambi, Sumatra varient. Very nice fish bro.

[deangelo]

:thumbsup: awesome monster....

[intrxz]

just took some more photos from my hp camera..post it up in a short while

[intrxz]

Ok guys ..here are more photos of my channa

[jordanlewis100]

that is as awesome as a C.Barca!!!

[mercury904]

I guess its just a different morph...An albinism maybe...its very beautifull...BTW you used a flash there right? why is it still so dark?

[Euge]

thats one crazy looking micro morph. Its almost like the picture is taken in negative.

[benzjamin13]

That is one good looking Snakehead!

[KRSwop1]

Nevermind. Not the same varient I was thinking of. Looks more to be a platinum. Hold onto that thing with your LIFE. Absolutely gorgeous. definately 1 of a kind. What did he look like when younger? Any pics of him when it was small?

[intrxz]

Photo shots taken with my sony ericsson handphone with only 1.3 megapixels so effect not that good. As for the photo when it's small sorry KRSwop1..i didnt take any of it but all i can say is that it's the same colour as the common channa mircopletes (red & black) except the pattern on the entire body and there was a small crown like flower on it's head ! as it grows scale become gold and platinum

[vinson lim]

holy s h i t , ths was the prettiest (colour) channa micro that i had evr seen. Hmmm... its jst look like a hybrid cha micro to me.... ByDeWay, which part of MSIA u bought frm? KL ?

[intrxz]

johore...u ?

[Super Ape]

hey intrxz! nice channa. was it white when it was small to?

look at this one:
http://www.arofanatics.com/members/sham_storm300/orangetoman/?return=/members/sham_storm300/

not white but a odd pattern at least...

[intrxz]

Super Ape..

That's the same species as mine when it's small !!! Except the body pattern. Who's d owner ??

[deangelo]

i think i found out what it is dude..It might be a channa micropeltes sp. india

[Opiate]

definately monster!

[intrxz]

deangelo,

the picture u posted is a common juvenile micro peltes.(aka toman in malaysia) i have 1 also presently and i mixed it with 3 channa maruloides (emperor snakehead aka toman bunga). Thanks bro.

Superape..thanks for asking me to check the website. It's the same species i have now. I already email the owner and waiting for his reply. He's from singapore. maybe he can share some infor on this fish

[deangelo]

deangelo,

the picture u posted is a common juvenile micro peltes.(aka toman in malaysia) i have 1 also presently and i mixed it with 3 channa maruloides (emperor snakehead aka toman bunga). Thanks bro.

Superape..thanks for asking me to check the website. It's the same species i have now. I already email the owner and waiting for his reply. He's from singapore. maybe he can share some infor on this fish

Oh ok..:) can you post pics of your juvy emperors cause i have one that is 3" and i dont know if its a maruloides or marulia...:)

[intrxz]

deangelo,

a lot of people fail to differentiate marulia and maruloides especially they are juveniles. the upper photo is a juvenile marulia and below maruloides. depending on individual preference. to me i prefer maruloides

[deangelo]

mine looks like a maruloides dude, im gonna post some pics when i get decent shots of it, its skittish as hell and very hard to photograph. BTW the person who sold it to me called it "Flower snakehead"..

[intrxz]

yup, channa maruloides also known as 'flower snakehead' in asia country. In malaysia it's known as emperor snakehead or toman bunga or ikan kuang or jalai. the more " flowers " it's on it's body the more expensive the price tag. normally in aquarium it's easily available those fish with 5 flowers. More than six flowers will be very rare ! Both side of the body must have the same amount of the flowers then it'll be very expensive. Ok, flowers here means that those black and silver scales growing on the browish band the fish has on the body. Count the brownish band. That's resembles the flower of the maruloides.

[intrxz]

example of a channa maruloides with 6 flowers band. do take note that some channa maruloides have 6 flowers band but the only limited black and silver scales will be found on the it. so flowers are not considered full. I do came across fish with only 5 bands but the black and silver scales grows until the top so they called it full flowers thus the price is not cheap.

[deangelo]

thanks for the info, i'll post some pics asap so you can verify the flowers..:)

thanks again intrxz

[plausible]

could it be a bowfin? the markings sure look like it check out this site http://www.primitivefish.com/

[jonahonah]

cant be a bowfin look at the bottom fins his has one pair then a single, bowfin two pairs the small single

[Super Ape]

intrxz: NP.
i dont know the guy how owns it, just came across the pics on that site again by accident. have you heard anything from him yet?

btw. very interesting what you said about the flower-markings on emperor snakeheads :)

[intrxz]

Superape

that guy didnt reply me :(

[Sarcosuchus]

The juvenile Marulioides pair pictures you posted, I am not sure if they true Marulioides since they lack the Ocellus. There is another species, exactly like Marulioides but lacks the Ocellus..it could be that.

Anyway, your Micropeltes..wow unbelievable, I hope you post more pictures because I love it! lol:headbang2

And that orange Micropeltes is very beautiful too!

Thanks a lot for sharing guys!

[intrxz]

nas,

if you are reading this, do let me know whether you have came across a channa micropeltes like mine in your area or in the wild as i'm looking for another one.

[intrxz]

nas,

This is the latest update pic of my fish

[Super Ape]

great update!

heres something interesting:

http://exotic.dw.land.to/image/014.jpg

found it on this site:
http://exotic.dw.land.to/kodaigyo.html

[deangelo]

that is interesting...channa micropelfes :D

[sauroid]

Oh ok..:) can you post pics of your juvy emperors cause i have one that is 3" and i dont know if its a maruloides or marulia...:)
where did you get specifically your C.marulioides/marulia?

[deangelo]

where did you get specifically your C.marulioides/marulia?

singapore...:)

[intrxz]

d shop seems to have a lot of exotic species especially albino...tat white channa they have there looks very awesome. thanks superape

[intrxz]

close view of the head...

[Euge]

damn that is a beautiful channa. POST MORE PICS!!!

[Sarcosuchus]

MORE!!!:drool:

[danny]

euge what happened to your avatar, that was so cool

[vinson lim]

that is interesting...channa micropelfes :D


i saw it too.... funny....
:ROFL:

[channa-pl]

wow it's very nice

[myster619]

cool!

[intrxz]

Next time i try to snap some pic while it's feeding..i'm worry one of this day my tank will crack due to it's impact while pursuing feeders...yesterday it mauled 2 15cm fish..

[intrxz]

more pics..

[Euge]

i saw a japanese website where it had a picture exactly like your micro and labelled it as Channa Micropeltes var. India

[intrxz]

Euge.. which website ? let me knw ...

below r the pics of a juvenile ..(same species) found at a local aquarium shop ..unfortunately the boss wouldnt want to depart with the fish..i went there to check out after a friend of mine called me up. I spent an hour there analyzing the fish and i find that the fish is exactly like mine when it was small except the pattern on it's body.

[khorxianjin]

damn nice fish !!!!!

[DownUnder]

Euge.. which website ? let me knw ...

below r the pics of a juvenile ..(same species) found at a local aquarium shop ..unfortunately the boss wouldnt want to depart with the fish..i went there to check out after a friend of mine called me up. I spent an hour there analyzing the fish and i find that the fish is exactly like mine when it was small except the pattern on it's body.

tat's a nice tiger u got there... dun find tat variation over here in SG... cheers...

[intrxz]

Down Under..

check tis website link : www.arofanatics.com/members/s...sham_storm300/ (http://www.arofanatics.com/members/s...sham_storm300/)
posted by Super Ape previously..tat species was the same one I have now..n
it's in SG...tat means this species has been around..but rarely been seen..if not how come the aquarium shop found one after I showed him mine..

[DownUnder]

intrxz... bro it says file not found...

[intrxz]

Sorry bro..tis one...

http://www.arofanatics.com/members/sham_storm300/orangetoman/?return=/members/sham_storm300/

[adobongrabbit]

nice!

[Super Ape]

you found another one! :WHOA: i'd never thought one would popup so soon.

but i hope the owner changes his mind about not selling it... so you won't have to ''make him an offer he cant refuse'' :evil_lol:

[intrxz]

bad news...d aquarium shop sold tat fish !!! I went there yesterday and the boss told me that someone offered him a very very high price tag ! damn !! now every aquarium shop are looking around for that species after my fish photo came out in the local newspaper.

[intrxz]

As promised....sorry not tat clear..recorded at nite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKtuCx0WrTM

[deangelo]

As promised....sorry not tat clear..recorded at nite

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKtuCx0WrTM

get a tank light man...so we can get a better view of that beauty :)

[intrxz]

deangelo..

i had one nice cover previously with lights but unfortunately this fella..each time i turn on the lights it 'll jump and smashed it..thus as you can see wire mesh cover was used

[na_cheers]

this is my first time I saw this type,really beautiful! but one of my friend told me before he saw a micro albino display in LFS, but that long2 time ago.

[intrxz]

hi nas,

glad to hv u here. Im a avid channa lover too..if u happen to be in johore next time drop me a line i'll b obliged to show u my channa..hv u been 2 kahang ? this small remote town is surrounded by jungle and it's river it's well known of giant snakehead (toman), channa maruloides (emperor), giant tapah (wallago leerii), etc..

[na_cheers]

yeah, sure i'll give a call if i'm going to Johor. nope,i never been to Kahang before. Have you been fishing there?

[SawtoothGrin]

hi nas,

glad to hv u here. Im a avid channa lover too..if u happen to be in johore next time drop me a line i'll b obliged to show u my channa..hv u been 2 kahang ? this small remote town is surrounded by jungle and it's river it's well known of giant snakehead (toman), channa maruloides (emperor), giant tapah (wallago leerii), etc..


10 years ago, my dad gave me a suprised,he came back early one day, he ask me to look outside, theres a lorry unloading a 12'X5' fiber container, and a pair of 3'++ micropeltes!its huge...bigger than my thighs!he told me that his client gave it to him, they caught the fish using electric pole and a whole chicken to catch it, somewhere in kahang.

[intrxz]

nas..i hv been to kahang but not d river and remote stream in the jungle yet as u need guide to bring u in. lot's of freshwater fishes available including the freshwater stingray..it's a fishing paradise...

sawtoothgrin..r those toman still around ? any pictures of them? kahang toman r different from the reservoir dam ones..as colour of the kahang's r more dark greenish to light green metallic..colours ! fabulous i would say..previously i had one bought from a nearby restaurant which was stunned by electric pole and it only survived for a week !!

[intrxz]

more pictures of juvenile gold micropletes like mine....(sorry guys picture not clear as it's SECRETLY taken at d aquarium shop) d owner of d shop found another 2. price tag very expensive after d owner knew about the quality and high demand of this species in d newspaper. i wonder where he found as this species is unavailable and cant be seen all these years..

[Super Ape]

wow another two!... the LFS owner must be one very well connected guy, hehe.

thanks for taking and sharing those pics!

[SawtoothGrin]

nas..i hv been to kahang but not d river and remote stream in the jungle yet as u need guide to bring u in. lot's of freshwater fishes available including the freshwater stingray..it's a fishing paradise...

sawtoothgrin..r those toman still around ? any pictures of them? kahang toman r different from the reservoir dam ones..as colour of the kahang's r more dark greenish to light green metallic..colours ! fabulous i would say..previously i had one bought from a nearby restaurant which was stunned by electric pole and it only survived for a week !!

Sorry bro, no pictures of them, its was like 10++years ago, i gave them to my maid's brother after i have to leave the country. Yeah, they are different, more muscle and the colours are different, and way more aggressive, i think they are more muscular because they need to fight the water current and as for the toman from the reservoir, there is no much current to fight/swim. Thats my theory tho, but i do remember the guy who gave my dad the fish, they gave me a half a kilo of sea or raw salt, cant remember, they ask me to mix it in the water.

[deangelo]

more pictures of juvenile gold micropletes like mine....(sorry guys picture not clear as it's SECRETLY taken at d aquarium shop) d owner of d shop found another 2. price tag very expensive after d owner knew about the quality and high demand of this species in d newspaper. i wonder where he found as this species is unavailable and cant be seen all these years..

dammit now i want one!!:drool: :D whats the price tag in us$ of one of those beauties?:)

[intrxz]

price tag at RM300 approx. US1200 !!

[SawtoothGrin]

heh?rm300=US1200?u sure?or is it the other way round?

price tag at RM300 approx. US1200 !!

[deangelo]

heh?rm300=US1200?u sure?or is it the other way round?

i think its the other way around but $300 bucks is a lot of moolah...

[na_cheers]

rm 3.7 is 1 usd, damn, another nice looking micro! so you getting it?

[intrxz]

sorry guys...miscalculation..it's MYR 300..so in USD approx. 80 only..based on 3.8 exhange rate.. went thr yesterday n those 2 fish has been sold !!! damn..

[na_cheers]

wah, so fast the fish gone,maybe someone saw it here than go buy? hehe...if those two r possible pair.superb pickup!

btw, what did u feed ur micro?

[intrxz]

nas..when it's small juvenile size ..drain guppies..as it reaches..1'..ikan putih..seluang..then it changes it's diet to small frogs (for fishing bait) and now tat fella love talapia..

[deangelo]

$80 bucks i can live with that...wish i could get some...

[na_cheers]

is this pattern quite common for micro? caught by my friend in Sarawak.

[joeytoe]

Great looking Channa. I wish I could still get them here. :(

[intrxz]

na_cheers..

Nice channa micro..which part of sarawak ? d pattern at the middle section will become a lateral black band as d fish become larger. judging from d pic i would assume this fish is approx 2-3kg and it's from a pond or lake or reservoir. correct me if i'm wrong ?

[na_cheers]

kch, near Matang. haha..its nearly reach 2 kg and its from Sarawak river. anyway, i saw most of the same size fish in internet already have this black lateral line.

[intrxz]

surprising it's from a river as d body is short n fatter. anyway keep it nicely who knows it turn out a beauty !! post more pics..

[intrxz]

pleuro ?

[deangelo]

pleuro ?

yeah a gorgeous one at that...:)

[SawtoothGrin]

a metrosexual pleuro

[DownUnder]

wow... beautiful...

[intrxz]

post more pics guys...larger micro in your house..

[intrxz]

new video updates....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqlQ78POB3o

[intrxz]

latest update of my fish..with a grown back damaged fin ...after recovery from rotten fin..nearly died. consulted LFS..in order for it to regrow back beautifully need to cut it off

[intrxz]

additional pic...

[vinson lim]

a speedy recovery awaits.

gd luck, he is an awesome fish.

[intrxz]

thanks bro

[intrxz]

found another juvenile gold channa micropeltes at LFS..pleaded with d owner at a special discounted price tag and just brought it home...will snap some pics and update..

[vinson lim]

good, good, good, i love to see it soon....

[Super Ape]

yes, me too! thats great ;)

[intrxz]

my lastest juvenile gold channa micropeltes...sorry photos not that clear as d fish swims very fast..i can say that this juvenile possess more artistic stripes on it's body compare with d other adult fish. hope this fella with become gold platinum as well...

[skareb]

beautiful collection...how much you paid for the lil fella...is the fish wild caught?

[intrxz]

i paid rm250 and it's wild caught. same LFS i bought it 4 years ago..according to d LFS owner this type of species is d same as d comon channa micro..5 among hundreds of d fries...however there's no specific detail proof

[na_cheers]

congrate! for another superb micro!!! really nice lookin

[sicxspeed]

wow those are sick, I wish I could get one, i'd get rid of all my fish for 1 of these snakeheads.

[intrxz]

2 more came in at d LFS !! damn..i wonder where those fishes came from ? rm250 per fish and d owner will be laughing on his way to the bank..as until nw if i'm not mistaken he already sold approx. 10..but not all with nice markings..

[intrxz]

here's r d photos...sorry not clear cos secretly snap..while d LFS owner entertaining customer. It's written on d glass " Toman Emas " meaning Gold Channa Micropeltes. d fishes just came in n d body full of fish lice..check out d normal channa micropeltes as well..only selling rm2 compare with d so called gold rm250 !!

[na_cheers]

damn, another more? do u think its from the wild? or captive breed? i think most probably captive breed.

[intrxz]

im curious about it's origin as well na cheers..it could be wild caught or captive bred..only d owner of d LFS which sells it knows about it..if it's captive bred..might be cross hybrid..

[intrxz]

three more juvenile came in....at d LFS..each with diff patterns..

[intrxz]

Latest video update of my juvenile n adult gold channa micropeltes..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuZMAClDekw

[KRSwop1]

bro, your adult golden micro has to be one of my all time favorite fish. Absolutely beautiful.

[ironmunki]

what a beautiful beast!

[intrxz]

Update pics of my one n only juvenile...after d adult died a week ago...

[vinson lim]

wow, its truely GOLD looking man...!!!! nice.

[vinson lim]

but yet, sorry for the loss again bro.

[intrxz]

Update pics of my juvenile gold as at 22/03/2008 with a 2" talapia fish in it's mouth..greedy fish already swallowed 3 before i snap d pic

[deangelo]

hey nice the patterns look even better than the last one you had...good luck with it:)

[Super Ape]

beautiful!!! :drool:

[hermandrum]

the pic load veli slow......

[na_cheers]

nice one! damn i dunt have enough time when i was in jb.

[intrxz]

na cheers..make it next trip to Kluang. i will be obliged to show u around. as at yesterday d LFS still have another 2 juvenile channa micropeltes like mine.

[intrxz]

more pics during feeding it with frogs..

[killerfish]

wow i love it very very nice snakehead sorry to hear the adult dies it was awesome

how come the water level is so low ? just trying to stop them from jumping ?

[intrxz]

yup it's a great jumper especially during feeding time. i'm still crossing my fingers hoping this juvenile will turn gold like d one i had previously.

[fobrinkle]

Ummm....they're illegal in the US. Don't think you'll find any.

[wanyusri84]

weird body

[DownUnder]

oh ***** ! it's a freaking nice gold plat micro... i'm really envious mate... LoL... cheers...

my lastest juvenile gold channa micropeltes...sorry photos not that clear as d fish swims very fast..i can say that this juvenile possess more artistic stripes on it's body compare with d other adult fish. hope this fella with become gold platinum as well...

[channarox]

is this the toman emas?
aka gold micro.

[DownUnder]

no idea... but i sure as hell would love 2 know where i can get my hands on them... LoL...

[jelly]

is this the toman emas?
aka gold micro.

Yes!!

[intrxz]

yup gold plat micro and very rare. too bad both of the fish were no longer with me

[H]-[H]

What happened to them, intrxz??
I think the gold micro is probably a man made hybrid like flowerhorn..

[Ransom]

he's a fantastic specimin (only read1st page)

[intrxz]

adult dead...juvenile sold to LFS

[tunblue]

just reading back again on rare species u had, any more u have come across lately?
must be nice to get hold of one...if its still avail??

[intrxz]

cant find anymore at the LFS..however the juvenile that i sold off to another LFS..sad to say that the colour turned greenish instead of my previous one which is gold platinum colour. very rare too bad...it's gone

[wolster]

Sorry for your loss bro..
Damn beautiful beast..Hope you gonna have another of this..
You will..

[Ramesh]

adult dead...juvenile sold to LFS

I just read your whole thread and can't believe the fish that started it is dead.
How did it die??
Man!! Is that fish really dead?

[gigas12]

Hi,sorry for your loss!

[intrxz]

yup...dead

[Ramesh]

What killed it???
Large Snake Heads are pretty tough I thought!

[intrxz]

bacteria infection i guess.

[NiceGuyNick]

#ft long fish in 4ft long tank?!?!?!!!! poor guy probably can't even turn around

[Ramesh]

Tank looks like a 4x4x2

[mad ness]

hmmm interesting. will start asking LFS to start looking for one of these. is the species verified micro Ind Var? thnx

[intrxz]

nope...not india var..i was told that these species re-appeared at the same LFS again..!!!! i havent go over to check yet

[limz_777]

is it captive breeding?

[intrxz]

i wouldnt know bro..went to the LFS couldnt get any sight of this species