Since my original post i have done some extensive research on these fish. There is a lengthy discussion about this species in the main snakehead forum. several have hit the market and these are no longer a mystery, turns out to be an argus variant that has been farmed in china for well over a decade now! Distributes did a wonderful job keeping it secrete to drive up the price but research prevailed!
EDIT:
Here's a link to the discussion
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?566827-Channa-Sp-White-Pearl-Lemon
