My Unknown Silver Channa

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Very nice, looks like platinum channa striata
 
From the shape of the head, it looks either like an argus or a striata. More likely to be striata.

Recently, I bought one as it was not in very good condition at the LFS and I wanted to study more about it. Had it for four days after which I sold it off when it looked healthy and eating well.

Sometimes when a snakehead changes its mood, its coloration changes. For a short while, I was able to see some grey patterning over its body which looked like those of a striata, most of the time, it just looked silver without any visible patterns.

Being in the same small country (Singapore), there is a good likelihood that these so-called channa sp. platinum were from the same importer... and are of the same species (Channa striata).
 
I wouldsay Striata also..but we are in the dark ages, Channawise...with new stuff appearing on a regular basis...
 
It is a Platinum Channa Argus. Not Striata.
 
Can I ask how you came to that conclusion?

Face shape, location of the eyes from tip of snout and head shape. Also the shape of the lower jaw. And especially the view from the top easily differentiates Argus from Striata.

Striata has a wider U shaped head while Argus is narrow.

(The platinum Argus of the member Inter below is possibly a female although I could be wrong. I've seen one with a wider head while retaining the narrow shape.

From what I've read a male Argus is larger, head has a prominent downward curve with a longer snout, not to mention wider. The Platinum Argus of the member Sacrosuchus is possibly a male.

The platinum Argus in the video above by OP is possibly a female. Although from what I've read Argus reaches sexual maturity at about 12 inches. So it's too early to tell.)

So you see the top view and the difference is obvious. I call it the difference between the cobra and the python head.

Striata head
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Argus head
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Credit to Inter

Argus also has a more prominent lower jaw compared to Striata. Thicker with a more upward curve.

Striata lower jaw
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Argus lower jaw
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Striata has a more frog like face similar to Emperor with eyes typically located closer to shout unlike Argus.

Albino Striata face
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Common Striata face
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Argus face
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Finally let's not forget the teeth. The whole set profile, shape, size and location. Striata has teeth similar to Emperor Snakehead with sharp ones are small and located at the sides and really nothing much in the front or middle jaw. They are also mostly located or perhaps more visible in the lower jaw.

Argus however has killer set of teeth. Once you see the single sharp tooth located in the center of the upper jaw you can pretty much know what it is.

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Since I brought up the topic of identifying sex of Argus, here you go:

The first Argus appearing on the video seems to be the male from the infos I've gathered. Just see the shape of his head compared to what is likely to be the female, who appears second in the video. The male head is larger, the downward curve is more prominent giving a longer snout profile. Male also has wider / longer / higher fins.

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Thanks for the detailed response.
I suppose the lower jaw and eye position is the easiest way to tell from the video?
There's no real angles from the top in the video. The head slope isn't very significant because the channa is still small. There's no shots of the teeth.
I was on the fence watching the video on my phone (can't see details very well on my phone screen), but I believe you are correct when I look at the lower jaw.
Thanks again.
 
Great response Taker. Didn't expect you to reply so thoroughly.

I agree that it's an argus. For me though, the most obvious give away is the spooning on the head/sharpness of the head. Straita heads are really fat and round
 
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