Help with extremely shy micro juvenile

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M

mrgoodkat

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 4, 2012
6
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0
Hong Kong / Shenzhen
Hey Guys,

I got a juvenile Giant Snakehead about 4 weeks ago and finished the tank for him about 2 weeks ago.
Is it normal that he is so extremely shy? Whenever someone passes the tank the little guy disappears behind some plants at the bottom. It is a little better in the evening, when it is possible to at least see him for a little while, but if I go to close to the tank he disappears again. I have also never seen him feeding. When I add small feeder Tilapia he only bumps them with his nose but never eats one as long as I'm watching. On the next day, all the fish are gone, so he is at least eating them.

Tank
IMG_20120820_190645.jpg


Little guy
IMG_20120825_213656.jpg

IMG_20120820_190654.jpg


The water is covered with fake leaves, so he should have sufficient cover. What can I do to make him come out more? Add more plants?

Thanks for your help.
 
How big is he ??? i also have a babie but he is much smaller then ur guy and also have the same prob except the eating thing he devores them rt infront of me . However i never had that prob when i had three of them together they were allways swimming around and when i would pass orr stop to look they would check me out .now that they are 26 invhes plus they follow me all the time. So as for ur little guy im not to sure but wish i could give u an answer .do u have anyhing in the yank wih him??

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Thanks for the tips guys.

The snakhead is about 12" (30cm) right now.
He is alone in the tank (The gar in the first photo moved already to the pond) and the tank would be too small for two adults, so he has to stay alone. I wouldn't know what to do with the second one later. Maybe he will become more confident when he gets bigger.
 
Hey guys,
so I got a mate for the micro today, caught it while fishing at a nearby pond. It's way bigger than the micro though (40cm and fat vs 30cm and skinny), will that make any problems?

channa2.th.jpg

channa1t.th.jpg


BTW: It's a Channa Argus, isn't it?
 
Hi,

yes that should be argus (copuld be maculata,too) but mixing these two species surely leaves you with one dead fish !
 
once it grows, it'll be the dominate fish of the tank!
 
Thanks brucki, that's what I thought too. Argus or Maculata, is there any way to be sure? It would be a real difference in maximum size. I think it's Argus, since it's already 40cm and Maculata shouldn't get that big, but then it looks more like Maculata than Argus.

I'm not planning to keep it forever, just till the Mirco juvi gets less shy and comes out to eat. Then I'll put the Argus back in the wild.

Brucki, since you seem to be the resident expert on Snakeheads, do you have any idea why my Micro is so shy? He is nothing like what people say Micros are. Not aggressive in the least bit and he doesn't eat when somebody is watching.

Thanks for your help.
 
Hi,

not all snakeheads from one species are the same in their temperament. Some are shy, others are voracious.
In most cases lots and ost and lots of hiding places, and time help to get the fish less shy.

In fact I think with your micro a lot of small live feeders could help to get him feel secure. Together with some other but bigger "cheap preyfish" like goldfish. The channa will not be attacked by them, they can easily benn eaten by the channa, and when the goldfish swimm around they will give the channa a more secure feeling.
 
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