Channa experts I was curious?

[varanio]

I was wondering if the myth about raising up a group of 7 or more holds truth to it being the best way to get a pair? Do the chances differ if you have 3,4, maybe even five fish? This is geared more for the smaller (dwarf) species, of channa. Just something I read and wanted some clarification.

Thanks

 

[milkman407]

Found an article for you.

http://iglnl.netfirms.com/Artikelen/Channa_gachua_artikel/Channa_gachua_artikel.htm

not everything you were asking, but its very informative.

its starts answering questions once you read it.

 

[milkman407]

Heres another one I found.

Many snakehead keepers have found that only a pair found from a group of channa reproduces successfully. It has now been proven that the females feed the young with feeder eggs after the yolk sacs have been absorbed. Removing the parents from the young at this stage will lead to a slower development of the fry. Young taken from their parents at this stage and raised separately did not develop as fast as their siblings staying with the parents. Due to the nurturing proteins in the feeder eggs released by the female the young grow at an astonishing rate

I recommend a minimum of six fish to be kept in a planted and well-structured tank. Sometimes the fish will pair off leaving the others in general peace until breeding time. Unfortunately in a lot of cases, getting snakeheads to pair from a group can result in the death of some individuals. Catching a snakehead in a proper snakehead tank is not an easy task and fish traps will result in the fish drowning, as they cannot reach the surface to breath. The alternative would be to raise the fish from juveniles in a grow out tank and provide the proper set up only once a pair has been established. For this purpose java fern and anubias attached to bogwood are the perfect plants to furnish the grow-out tank. Amazon sword planted in pots and floating plants such as India fern are also a good choice as well as beech leaves covering the floor of the tank. Slate is the best stone material to use for providing screens in the tank. This means that the whole tank can easily be emptied to catch an individual fish and then be just as easily refurnished.

A bare tank for growing and pairing up snakeheads is not appropriate!

Once the fish have paired up they will remain mates for the rest of their lives.





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"Once the fish have paired up they will remain mates for the rest of their lives."

This is true, but I've read a couple sources that during breeding, the female will sometimes " Rip the male to shreds, killing him" this normmaly happens about 2-3 days before the eggs are actully fry.

 

[milkman407]

Found this interesting

the Bush administration announced a proposal to impose trade and import bans on 28 species of snakeheads. The ban is none too soon, as snakeheads have already been found in six other states: California, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

I only heared of them being in florida, And that one guy whos on here thats catching them in his backyard.

didnt know about the other locations, Didnt mean to derail bro, just adding more information, that cought my attention.


but back to the breeding, I'd think that with a pair of 3-4 your taking a risk. If you happen to get a pair, its much easier for them to kill 2 extra fish in the tank than say 4-5. I'd think its a safer bet.

 

[milkman407]

I would like to here from others though, who actully own snakehead or have an intrest in them.

 

[Freakdaddy]

Hi,
its down to the law of averages really, the more you buy the more chance you have of getting different sexes and from them you'll have more of a chance that you'll get a pair.

Channa are almost impossible to sex individually unless you have a group to make comparisons with.

From 4(minimum) - 8 or more individuals is the way to go ,its just the same as if you were hoping for a pair from Cichlids.

With the impending EU import ban its advisable for anybody who wants these animals to get some now and get groups with the purpose of breeding them.

Because if hobbiest dont do this NOW in a few short years Channas will be a thing of the past in our aquaria gone for ever!

 

[tropheus]

as freakdaddy said , i have known a pair form from 3 fish but again i could only suggest 4 minimum , six seams to be the magic number to be sure of getting a pair , but sometimes its hard to find six of the same species

 

[Monster VooDoo Fish]

I'd say yes but if you have to many fish then finding the pair could be hard.
6 to 8 is a good number odd number leaves you short one pair.

After you get one pair remove them and let the rest pair off, usually they fight when they pair off with the male biting on to the side of the females
head and holding there.

Then a few days later they do a mating dance. Sometimes a pair will not
hang out in the same hole, they like to have lots of caves.

I've seen a pair from two fish, if they are juvi they will pair up.
Even had a male pair up with a second female after he killed his mate.