Tropical snakeheads?

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shawe1

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Aug 28, 2013
336
7
33
Hertfordshire, England
Hi,

I am contemplating the idea of getting one of the smaller snakehead species and was wondering what species (if any) can be kept in tropical set up?

I have done a fair amount of research but have read a lot of conflicting info regarding sub-tropical and tropical temperatures?

Are there many of the snakehead species that will thrive in tropical temps?

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Yes there are a few smaller tropical species, Channa baramensis , bankanensis & orientalis are all fairly small species and there are gachua found in tropical waters as well but i find many in the trade are subtropical localities since they seem to be more colorful.

Also there are the parachanna species from africa , obscura would be the largest they reach~14". From there the tropical species start to get quite large.

Of course they still would need to be kept solo, or in a species tank as a pair. I mention it only because i find often when people ask about tropical species they are often asking because there current tank inhabitants aren't compatible with sub tropical temps, but channa do not play well with others!

You get alot of conflicting info on subtropical species because they can tolerate tropical temps for shorter periods of time, just like they would in summer months, but they dont last long term.

So there will always be people who say "mine do fine at tropical temps" which leads others to repeat it, but nobody brags up when these subtropical fish die a few months later from the temps, or they dont connect the fact that high temps is what lead to them jumping out or getting an infection and melting away ect.

You'll also see lot's care sheets listing "max and min" temps, but not mentioning that top 25% of that range can only be handled for a very short time, or leaving out that a winter low is needed to keep them healthy, which also leads to confusion.

Hope that helps !
 
Thanks very informative.

How would a smaller snakehead work out with some larger cichlids (mild mannered)?

I would like to try in a community if at all possible.

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I have a small snakehead (pulchra) and would suggest a community would not be the best idea, if you don't want to be regularly replacing fish... mine attacks snails, let alone fish.... even if you got one that didn't kill, the other "prey" fish will be living in fear and will probably be stressed... that's just my opinion from the experience of my fish's temperament. Some people make it work though
 
Hi,
imho snakeheads shouldn be kept with cihlids at all. Mostly the snakehad is harraesd by or harrases tghe cichlids ;-)

ANd harraesd snakeheads are shy and you wont ever see the fish.
 
Brucki said:
Hi,
imho snakeheads shouldn be kept with cihlids at all. Mostly the snakehad is harraesd by or harrases tghe cichlids ;-)

ANd harraesd snakeheads are shy and you wont ever see the fish.
Click to expand...

Agree 100%, I recommend against keeping channa with any tank mates, especially cichlids, they kill the ones they can kill, and they get stressed and hide from the ones they can't kill.
 
I wish I could get my hands on some, but they are banned in the US so I probably have to result in catching one this Spring. Hopefully I will have some luck. ;)
 
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