it occurred to me today that snakeheads are some of the best monster fish to keep and i figured i would do a thread on some of the joys of keeping these.
now apart from the rep which makes them a monster in attitude rather than size (although some of the giants are just that) these are some of the easiest fish to care for. water changes are best done sporadically, i do a small 20% change once every two - three weeks, they hate it and it upsets their routine for a few days but it's a must. they are air breathers so water quality can slip here and there (although mine never does). you never have a problem growing things in there tanks (except other fish), plants do well with just lighting. I grow all my new javas in there once i have tied them give them a couple of weeks in there and they get loads of growth to move on to other tanks.
feeding is easy, if it hits the water it goes in their mouth, pellets, prawn and anything. waste isn't an issue the plants deal with that and a simple filter set up copes with the rest.
they like it dark and dingy and close so swamp/ pond like set ups work. they spend a lot of their time sat guarding their rock but go near the tank and they are there to see you off.
there is a downside, snails. the only thing that annoys me is there is very little you can do about them. you can not add fish to eat them as the SH will eat the fish, assassin snails work but as the water temps are lower on the sub tropical tanks this is slow.
anyway just thought i would share
now apart from the rep which makes them a monster in attitude rather than size (although some of the giants are just that) these are some of the easiest fish to care for. water changes are best done sporadically, i do a small 20% change once every two - three weeks, they hate it and it upsets their routine for a few days but it's a must. they are air breathers so water quality can slip here and there (although mine never does). you never have a problem growing things in there tanks (except other fish), plants do well with just lighting. I grow all my new javas in there once i have tied them give them a couple of weeks in there and they get loads of growth to move on to other tanks.
feeding is easy, if it hits the water it goes in their mouth, pellets, prawn and anything. waste isn't an issue the plants deal with that and a simple filter set up copes with the rest.
they like it dark and dingy and close so swamp/ pond like set ups work. they spend a lot of their time sat guarding their rock but go near the tank and they are there to see you off.
there is a downside, snails. the only thing that annoys me is there is very little you can do about them. you can not add fish to eat them as the SH will eat the fish, assassin snails work but as the water temps are lower on the sub tropical tanks this is slow.
anyway just thought i would share
