New channa - parachanna obscura

[Andri Pogo]

Just got a small obscura, ~3"
I heard of one in my country that was very aggressive, are they gererally very aggressive?

I put it in a 4feet 100L tank for now, with a needlenose, couple hujetas and small Dovii´s (which will be moved to another tank away in a few days).

Do you think they will work togehter? And are they good in a small group? If so, I want to get a few more obscuras.

 

[pallestopheles]

Hi,Andri Pogo.........

It is nice to give the obscura some food for welcome!

I think needlenose and Hujeta are an eccellent food .....just like spagetthi!

Obscura is not quite aggressiv to other fish,if they have the minimumsize of themselves!
They are calm fish and like to hide between plants and roots.........
They prefer dim light!!!!

But they will eat everything what fits in their mouth............

Pascal

 

[Andri Pogo]

Thanks Pascal, i dont think he will try to eat the needlenose and hujetas just yet, they are 3x bigger.

Are the obscuras as sensetive to warm water as the bleheri is? I read what you said about the bleheris but i have been getting some obscura info and it says they like 25-28°.?

 

[pallestopheles]

Hi.......
Be carefull!
obscura can grow very fast!
And they are able to swallow fish of the half size of their own!
I do not think the other fish will grow as fast as the snakehead!

Parachanna obscura is an african species!

and they like to have warmer water!

So keep them at a temperature between 24-28°C

And if you will have a couple one day (good luck)...they might breed!

Pascal

 

[Andri Pogo]

ok thanks, and the average aquarium size is around 30cm right? i saw some bigger, up to 50+cm wildcaught

How many would you recommend keeping together? just stick with the one or have 2,3,4,5... ?

 

[pallestopheles]

Hi..........

my biggest one reaches a length of about 45cm!

But not every fish reaches that size in an aquarium!

35-40cm....is the regulary size!

How much to keep?

Well,that depends on what you want to do?!
Do you want to breed them?

The best way....if you want to breed them .......is to buy a group of juveniles!
About 4-6 pieces
They have to find themselves as a couple....otherwise they will not breed!
They where sexual mature at a size of about 25cm.........
I have never seen a couple smaller than this breeding!

But you have to monitor your fish!
If they build a couple they will attack the other ones..........
Take them out as fas as possible..otherwise you will lose the other fish that not belong to the couple!!

But you also can have only one fish!
But maybe it will become shy then!

Pascal

 

[Andri Pogo]

ok
viel dank für ihre hilfe Pascal

 

[pallestopheles]

Hey.........

Gern geschehen (German for:it was my pleasure!!)

Thanks for the german words!!

Pascal

 

[Andri Pogo]

removed the Dovii´s the next day and today i moved the hujetas and needlenose.
The obscuras were always hiding but right when i removed the other they are swimming all over, very beautiful channas!
Also planted a few plants and they seem to like it.
Have 2 now and thinking of getting another 2 tomorrow.

Heres one if them:

 

[Andri Pogo]

got the last 3 in the store so i have 5 now.