ID Please?

[DannyLee94]

Hi,
Could anybody ID this snakehead for me please, i was told it was Aurantimaculata which grows to around 16" however, it doesn't seem to have grown much at all since i bought it, which was in around september. We bought 3 Asiatica about a month before it and 2 of them are far bigger than him. Could he be a Dwarf species; which would mean i have been ripped off,

Pictures of him are posted below.

Thanks.

 

[King-eL]

Yep it's an Aurantimaculata. Looks so skinny. What are you feeding it?

 

[limz_777]

what's its diet ?

 

[DannyLee94]

Hes eating prawns and muscles when ive got them, we feed the other fish bloodworm but he doesn't bother with it.

 

[King-eL]

Hes eating prawns and muscles when ive got them, we feed the other fish bloodworm but he doesn't bother with it.

Look malnourished that's why it didn't grow much. Try the food that it used to eat and bloodworms are not really good for growing a fish that size as it contain low in protein.

 

[blackghostuk]

Hes eating prawns and muscles when ive got them, we feed the other fish bloodworm but he doesn't bother with it.

You feed it when you've got food?

I'd be feeding it every few hours, to keep it topped up.

 

[DannyLee94]

Look malnourished that's why it didn't grow much. Try the food that it used to eat and bloodworms are not really good for growing a fish that size as it contain low in protein.

thanks for your reply.
I offer food every day, its not like he isnt eating, he eats about every other day but its not good for him or the tank having lumps of prawn laying around.
If he doesnt eat the food inside an hour i take it out.
He gets muscels when i have them in for a change, he was eating blood worm when i got him, but will not accept them now, this may clear things up.
My water parameters are spot on.
What types of food could i try him with.
Its realy strange because the asiatica i got only 2 months before him are almost twice his length, thats why i thought i may have been duped with a dwarf species. thanks simon.

 

[DannyLee94]

You feed it when you've got food?

I'd be feeding it every few hours, to keep it topped up.

Sorry pal i cant get over that, you say you would feed him every few hours, its a 4 inch fish mate that will only accept food every other day, if i fed him the way you say, i would'nt need gravel as he would be on an inch of prawns and muscles.
I will perservere now at least i know he's an auranti.
thanks

 

[-DC-]

Aurantimaculata fo sure, prawns seem to be a favorit of theres, some are shy, I feed in the evenings and leave food ovr night, 99% of the time nothings leftr by morning, also keep some bite sized feeder fish in thre, he'll find them during the night, and that'll help get some grothw going

 

[DannyLee94]

Aurantimaculata fo sure, prawns seem to be a favorit of theres, some are shy, I feed in the evenings and leave food ovr night, 99% of the time nothings leftr by morning, also keep some bite sized feeder fish in thre, he'll find them during the night, and that'll help get some grothw going

nice 1 mate, i'le try that advice, he does seem more interested in the evenings and it wont harm leaving the prawn in overnight.
cheers pal