Snakeheads

[nielsdetd]

Hey, I'm new here, I've just discovered this site recently, my name is Niels, I live in Brussels, Belgium.

Recently I bought myself 2 juvenile albino snakeheads (Channa striata? I'm not quite sure)

Anyway, I'm keeping these two guys together in one tank right now with two other juvenile cobra snakeheads, but one of them (albino) tends to be quite agressive towards the others, which is normal behaviour I guess because I've read somewhere that snakeheads tend to be territorial. I'm planning on getting myself some more tanks (I'm quite lucky as I can get them for free as my neighbours are giving some big tanks away that they won't need anymore), so I can seperate them when they get older/bigger/more destructive towards each other.

I use mosquito larves, daphnia, blood worms and artemia for food right now. Temperature is 25 degrees, they have a lot of swimming space, surface space to breathe, and lots of plants/hiding places.

There's also a salamander in the tank, and for now the snakeheads won't attack him, but I'll seperate him 2 as soon as they get bigger.

Anyway, I thought you guys could maybe give me some extra tips/ information, there must be a lot of people around here who are quite experienced with snakeheads.

Thanx,

Niels

 

[Cyclop3000]

First, welcome to MFK!!

You will probably have to split the SH, like you said. The salamander is also going to have it if it does not have a new home by the time it's about 1/2 the size of the SH. I have a couple juveniles SH that are about 4-5" now, and they eat feeder fish 1/2 their size in one gulp. I also feed them grocery shrimps without the shell, bloodworms, ghost shrimps (they love those), freeze-dried krill, and they sometimes steal crickets and mealworms from my arowana.

If you want them to grow fast, feed twice a day...they will thank you fot it. I have a pair of Channa Pleurophthalma, and I am able to keep this genus in group throughout their lives. I am not familiar with the ones you have, but I believe it is better that they each have their own space (tank). But as with all fish you can always leave them together and see how they react with time...

SH are great, you will have a good time with them !

 

[nielsdetd]

Thx for the constructive comment!

I've just watched your personal gallery, and I believe I've made a mistake.
I think it's Channa pleurophtalma that I have (besides the albino striata's), they're still juveniles so I guess their coloration must be quite identical to juvenile Cobra snakeheads. So, can you really keep these two guys together as they are the same species?

 

[rumblesushi]

Welcome to MFK, I just wanted to ask you a couple of questions about Brussels.

You have a few snakeheads - so is Brussels good for fish? How many fishshops are there? And what other cool fish have you seen other than channas?

Also - can you buy feeder fish in Brussels?

Cheers,
JR

 

[nielsdetd]

There are a hell of a lot of fish shops, and you can buy almost anything I believe.If there is a species that you don't have, you can always order it, and it ships in in about two weeks, so if you want to have a good time, I'd say pay the city a little visit.

 

[nielsdetd]

you don't have= they don't have

 

[nielsdetd]

that was not the smiley I intended actually

 

[superkimchiman]

i got a 10 inch albino striata. look for my post thats titled "my albino snakehead pics" u can see my snakehead there.

if u want your snakeheads to grow fast, then feed them feeder fish. mine grew from like 1.5 inch to 10 inch in 3 months. =)

check out www.snakeheads.org to find more info and stuff.

WELCOME TO MFK!!!

 

[rumblesushi]

thanks for the info niels - I've been to Brussels once, it's a cool city.

I live in SPain now and there are NO fish at all here, so I need to find a city with good fish.

Do you know if any of the fish stores ship abroad?

 

[nielsdetd]

Hmm sorry I don't know that, I'll ask the guy from the aquarium store if he knows any stores that ship abroad.

Wouldn't it be nice if there'd be some kind of international aquarium shipping service, where you'd just have to dial a number and they'd drop you a bag with water and fish in it by parachute? Haha I can imagine it already.

By the way do Snakeheads get teeth as they grow older, or are they just not visible when they're still young? Maybe some Channa species get no teeth at all...