Hi!
Have a look at this!
-Channa aurantimaculata
The minimum size of a tank for them should be: 1,5m lenght x 50cm deep x 50 cm high
They can reach a size of about 45cm
Ch. aurantimaculata is not a tropical fish and should not kept together with other fish that prefer tropical temperatures!
They come from a subtropical area in india..........
Prefered temperatures are: 18-24°C
They start breeding at a temperature about 20° C
Channa aurantimaculata is a mouthbrouder in the male sex..............just like stewartii and gachua
They are also egg feeders..........
A friend of mine ,here in Germany has breed them 2 times.........
They are sexual matured at a size of about 30cm!
They will not breed in warmer temperatures..........so if you keep them tropical you will have no success breeding them
My friend keeps them in the garden pond in the summer time and catch them out in October-November!(that depends on the temperatures)
Ch. aurantimcaulata can be fed with shrimps,mussels,little fish (because of animal protection here in Germany I prefer dead fish-I also use no live fish because it can bring diseases in your aquarium!)
Also they can be fed with insects,like Zophobas,Earthworms,grassoppers and so on!
juvenile fish can be fed with bloodworms,maggots,krill etc.......
Channa aurantimaculata sometimes like to dig........
So it is better to put plants into baskets.......
They also like to hide in caves (for example: PVC Pipes)
As for every other snakehead in captivity they need a good cover against jumping out......
You can stop this jumping behaviour with floating plants........
Also they like to hide underneath floating plants..........they give them cover while they breath at the surface!
They can be kept in nearly every freshwater.........no matter if it is hard or soft!
But they prefer softer water (I mix tab water with rain water-or use reversal osmosis)
The colours will be better ,too!
Channa aurantimaculata is a close relative to Ch. stewartii and Ch. barca-we call it stewartii /aurantimaculata group
I advice a tank for their own!
Coditions for other snakehead species you can find here:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124841
Cheers Pascal
