Channa Pleurophthalma Aggression

[bottles]

I got bit last week; more of a test bite than anything, but enough to draw blood (this is the second time). Lately they have been particularly aggressive, attacking me and the siphon. If I have to put my hand in the tank, I usually put the siphon or a net in the tank first so they know that it's not feeding time. They will hit anything that touches the water.

Is this behavior a result of the season changing, mixed with the fact that they are sexually mature? I'm not holding my breath for eggs, but one of the smaller males has been flexing hard on one of the females. I'm not sure if he's courting her, or just being a jerk. The pack is generally pretty peaceful.

Some pics:

 

[cpm6t]

Nice pics bottles.
The pleuros I have are pretty peaceful and won't even dream of coming closer to my hand. Of course they are still 6" in size.
What's the size of your pleuros, they don't look like they've hit the 12" mark yet? What size tank are they in? Can you please put a full tank shot too?

 

[Joao M]

Great shots (as usual) Bottles.

The male auranti attacks my hand as well and to clean the siphon of the FX5 I need to have a helper (one of my kids) pushing the male way with a net(putting the net in the tank is not enough..) or I get bit a few times.
Regarding the 3rd shot it´s funny because after a water change this Saturday, my male auranti did the exact same thing to the female (but since he is bigger he put half her head in his mouth). Is this breeding activity or pure aggressiveness?

My Pleuros are still very young (4 to 6") and dart away everytime I have to open the tank lid

 

[Auranti]

Could the one showing aggression be establishing dominance and trying to be the alpha of your pack?

 

[-DC-]

Yup just maturing and hes trying to court the female.

It's that time of year, All my channa have been worked up and aggressive this week I've seen signs of courtship between all of them. Auranti have come out of the winter mode and are pounding back food, my males been nipping and nuzzling my female although she's just been ignoring him so far. My Asiatica is back to attacking/jumping at me when i walk by she's most aggressive, the rest of the species just flare up and puff gills at me when i approach, even the smallest 3" bleheri lol

Happens every spring ! Great pic's!

 

[bottles]

Nice pics bottles.
The pleuros I have are pretty peaceful and won't even dream of coming closer to my hand. Of course they are still 6" in size.
What's the size of your pleuros, they don't look like they've hit the 12" mark yet? What size tank are they in? Can you please put a full tank shot too?

Thank you.
The male on the left is right around 12", and the female that he's biting is about 14". The largest in the tank is 15-16". The tank is a 180g. You can see their progression and a full tank shot here http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?556170-Channa-Pleurophthalma.

Great shots (as usual) Bottles.

The male auranti attacks my hand as well and to clean the siphon of the FX5 I need to have a helper (one of my kids) pushing the male way with a net(putting the net in the tank is not enough..) or I get bit a few times.
Regarding the 3rd shot it´s funny because after a water change this Saturday, my male auranti did the exact same thing to the female (but since he is bigger he put half her head in his mouth). Is this breeding activity or pure aggressiveness?

My Pleuros are still very young (4 to 6") and dart away everytime I have to open the tank lid

Thanks, Joao.
Haha, good thing you got a helper.
Is he always that aggressive, or just as the temperature rises? It very well could be part of the courting process.
I noticed that my other Channas have been showing similar aggression, but I wasn't really expecting a pair out of the C. Pleuros since they are so hard to breed. Not that a pair means breeding necessarily, but it's a step in the right direction.

Could the one showing aggression be establishing dominance and trying to be the alpha of your pack?

It crossed my mind, but the fact that he is focused on one particular female makes me think that he's trying to pair off. This activity went on for about 45min just between the two Channa.

Yup just maturing and hes trying to court the female.

It's that time of year, All my channa have been worked up and aggressive this week I've seen signs of courtship between all of them. Auranti have come out of the winter mode and are pounding back food, my males been nipping and nuzzling my female although she's just been ignoring him so far. My Asiatica is back to attacking/jumping at me when i walk by she's most aggressive, the rest of the species just flare up and puff gills at me when i approach, even the smallest 3" bleheri lol

Happens every spring ! Great pic's!

Thanks, DC.
This is what I was thinking. As I wrote earlier, my other SHs are showing similar signs, I just didn't much expect it from the C. Pleuros.

 

[Joao M]

Thanks, Joao.
Haha, good thing you got a helper.
Is he always that aggressive, or just as the temperature rises? It very well could be part of the courting process.
I noticed that my other Channas have been showing similar aggression, but I wasn't really expecting a pair out of the C. Pleuros since they are so hard to breed. Not that a pair means breeding necessarily, but it's a step in the right direction.

He is generally aggressive. Very aggressive during and (in the couple of hours) after a water change

 

[bottles]

Interesting. I get the same results after water changes, especially if I refill with slightly warmer water.