Question about Channa Aurantimaculata and pairing them

[weedmand]

Hello.

i went to my local fish store yesterday with the intend of buying a couple of channa bleheri, but when i got there, they had just gotten an Channa Aurantimaculata in stock, so i ended up buying that instead. It is currently in a 325L (60g) tank, but with plans to move it to a 720l (190g) tank soon. the fish is currently 18-20cm (7 inc) i believe it is a female. the fish is doing well after being introduced to the tank. i got it to eat earlier today.

so i was wondering how often should i feed the fish. i was thinking every second day or so maybe everyday at first while its getting used to the tank?

secondly. i was wondering about pairing them. i know they are very aggressive towards each other, and only do well in pairs of 2, or completely alone in the tank. But i talked to the guy at the fish store, and he told me he could properly get a hold of 3 or 4 more fish, and would be willing to help me Resell the remaining fish afterwards, but i was wondering, if they are to big or small to try and get them to pair?. if they do have the right size to try and pair them, i would set up the 720l tank and introduce all of them at once, and keep the 325l tank running as a holding tank to move the pair to (if one forms) until i could sell off the remaining fish, then move the pair back to the 720l. Also is there anything else i should keep in mind while trying to pair them? and maybe afterwards, do pairs have any special needs over just a single fish?

thanks in advance

 

[weedmand]

i took a few pictures if there is anybody interested. i know i should have more floating plants, but the ones i got do not seem to be doing well in the tank, so i am going to pick up a different kind in the next couple of days.
as i said earlier i think its a female but if anybody else thinks differently please let me know. it was pretty hard getting a proper picture of the dorsal fin, since it seems very keen on swimming up and looking at me, instead of swimming around when i am taking pictures







View attachment 1278386

 

[Gazham]

You might be best to sell this fish and get a group of them instead if you want a pair. I think it may be almost too late to introduce more at this size (please correct me if any know better).
He/she looks happy in the tank to me. Any more plants would be a bonus I'm sure.
I only have a single aurantimaculata, the pair he was from got split up by the previous owner, it's a shame, but he won't accept any new tank mates these days. They are still great to keep, even as on their own

 

[Madou]

I agree.

Adding more to form a pair will probably end up with 3 dead aurantis and this very one being the sole survivor. Once they have a territory, it is nigh impossible to add anything at that size.

Keep your 720L to try adding 6 younger channas, the 325 will be sufficient for this solo auranti.

 

[weedmand]

I agree.

Adding more to form a pair will probably end up with 3 dead aurantis and this very one being the sole survivor. Once they have a territory, it is nigh impossible to add anything at that size.

Keep your 720L to try adding 6 younger channas, the 325 will be sufficient for this solo auranti.

thanks for replies guys i really appreciate it!.

i dont think ill be able to get a hold of a group of juvenile fish, so if i where to order a group of fish, i believe all of them would be around 17-20 cm, so the same size as the fish i already have. so if that is to big to get them to pair up, i will just stick with one fish, because id feel bad for it just being in that small 325l tank, and deffintly want it to go in the 720l when i get it set up and cycled.

 

[Madou]

I personally had my pair in a 700L, and it only used part of the tank, always the same.
It sincerely does not need that big a volume. I kept them in a 350L, and they seemed pretty happy!

As for pairing out of a group of sub adults, it's possible, but very unlikely.

 

[Calc]

Sorry, not trying to jack the thread, but I have almost the exact same situation.
I just bought 6 of the Auranti at 7 ", They are in a 210g tank with plants.
Is it impossible to pair them? ( There are few people are asking me to sell them the fish,
should I sell them 2 and keep 4 ?

 

[Madou]

Sorry, not trying to jack the thread, but I have almost the exact same situation.
I just bought 6 of the Auranti at 7 ", They are in a 210g tank with plants.
Is it impossible to pair them? ( There are few people are asking me to sell them the fish,
should I sell them 2 and keep 4 ?

If they are not killing each other, I guess they still have a chance to pair. The bigger, the lesser the chances.

As for selling, i'd wait to get a pair and sell the remaining 4.

 

[Calc]

Usually how long does it take for them to form a pair?