Question regarding breeding, bonding pair

[syrianrue]

I know that Channa Barca is a very hard species to breed within the snakehead family due to its extreme aggression, and undoubtedly the most expensive.

for species of channa like the barca, and the others in the family that are more aggressive. do people just get two together that have already paired up? but if so, aren't those fish already quite matured and by doing so aren't you going to miss out on the joy of truly raising your fish from a baby to an adult and witness the entire progression?

otherwise, it would be a great idea to find some friends and chip in and just get a whole batch, maybe 6-8 fish altogether and just wait for them to pair up... from 6-8, i'm guessing there's a possibility of 2 pairs if you're lucky then sell the bachelors and bachelorettes..

but at what age do channas usually show their pairing behavior? only right before they are about to mate? or quite young?

 

[fish_sauce]

Breeding channa can be easy IF you have a proper home for your fish. Many people wish to breed snakeheads but fail miserably because they take such horrible care of their fish. Each channa have their own specific needs. You must do your own research prior to buying your channa. Otherwise, it's a waste of time and money. Not to mention, unhappy fish.

 

[fish_sauce]

I forgot to mention also. I wouldn't suggest someone that has never kept channa before, to go out and blow a ton of money on barcas, and end up killing every single one. It's not a fish for beginners. You would have more chances of winning the next lottery than you would successfully breeding barcas.

 

[syrianrue]

oh i know, i was just asking to satiate my curiosity really.
by the way, what are the main differences between pulchra and gachua? other than the fact that Gachua have an approximate size of 7" - 12" vs a Pulchra that is usually at about 20-25cm.

what are the personality and visual differences? 'cuz at a glance gachua, pulchra and channa sp. assam look very similar (disregarding the size differences)