Took a peek in a mom and pop LFS today and one tank caught my eye .... when I asked they said they were Rainbow Snakeheads on quaranteen for a week, they just got them. Thinking of getting one or two, but need to figure out chances of survival/compatibility of my current plans/stock. I read that these guys get to about 8" so my 55 gallon should be okay I think. It currently has just 1 senegal bichir, 1 synodontis ocellifer, 1 albino bushy nose pleco and some driftwood and plants; with plenty of filtration. I was originally planning on adding 4 african butterfly ciclids in it (as soon as they get ordered / been waiting 2 weeks now .... checked today). In your opinion would it still work with a rainbow snakehead as well? The butterfly ciclids aren't the largest I know and I'm already taking some of a chance with my bichir and them, is it about the same amount of risk with the snakehead too? Thanks in advance.
info on channa bleheri (rainbow snakehead) please
- Thread starter Mr. Mom
- Start date
I keep my tanks at 78F, and from what I had read the Rainbow Snakehead needed temps below 80F ... so at what point would it have to be lower? As for species only, I'm kinda willing to take that risk. My senegal bichir is almost 6" and my syno is over 6" ... where as the Rainbow Snakeheads they had were not even 4". So as long as those work ... I don't see why not. Don't have my African Butterfly Ciclids yet (that is if my LFS I'm using comes through for me) and it was gonna be a trial anyways with the bichir ... have a couple of 30 gallon tanks sitting pretty much empty for them, should it not work out.
Plus one page I saw today on the web had said that possible tank mates for a Rainbow (it was a pretty short list mind you) did include the senegal bichir as well as synodontis.
Is there anything else I should be aware of? ... these guys really caught my eye.
As for the store ... it was a Mom and Pop shop in NE Calgary.
With this species aggression isn't the main concern, proper care is.
You CAN stick them in that setup, they will be stressed out by the tank mates and the temps in fact the warm temps will likely make them lethargic. 78 is high for them , ok for a summer high but they should get a winter period of low 70's. There colors will be washed out in a mixed tank and/or if kept warm year round. Also kept in the higher temperature range they will be prone to infection . Pleco's and snakeheads are a bad mix, My snakeheads attack pleco's , I've also had pleco's latch onto snakeheads to suck slime coat (on a side note, pleco with bichir is a risky mix as well)
To see them at there best they should be kept species only , in lower temps and heavily planted / lots of hiding spots. It's worth it, a well kept snakehead is a stunning fish ! I wonder if the shop ships ?? I have a few empty 35g's would love to add another species to my collection!
You CAN stick them in that setup, they will be stressed out by the tank mates and the temps in fact the warm temps will likely make them lethargic. 78 is high for them , ok for a summer high but they should get a winter period of low 70's. There colors will be washed out in a mixed tank and/or if kept warm year round. Also kept in the higher temperature range they will be prone to infection . Pleco's and snakeheads are a bad mix, My snakeheads attack pleco's , I've also had pleco's latch onto snakeheads to suck slime coat (on a side note, pleco with bichir is a risky mix as well)
To see them at there best they should be kept species only , in lower temps and heavily planted / lots of hiding spots. It's worth it, a well kept snakehead is a stunning fish ! I wonder if the shop ships ?? I have a few empty 35g's would love to add another species to my collection!
Here's the Rainbow Snakeheads off quaranteen now ...
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Some other kind of Snakehead they have .... wasn't there last week and didn't have time to inquire about them.
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Some other kind of Snakehead they have .... wasn't there last week and didn't have time to inquire about them.
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Been having issues loading pics ... sometimes works sometimes doesn't .... anyhow pic 2 and 3 are the ones that had no lable just a price.