Wanting some opinions...

[SRIDENZ]

Hi guys and gals!

I have falling in love with some piccies i saw of a Channa Bleheri.

A few concerns. The tank is about 110 gal. and i wantedto keep the bleheri along with one or two good size species (yet TBC).

My concerns are that these guys need subtropical temperatures which makes tank mates difficultto find?!?!

Second concern is the PH levels around here are 8 to 8.5 out the tap! which i think is way too high?! Is RO my only option and buffer it up to a suitable level?

Lastly... i cant find any LFS or stockists with Bleheri on there list!!

 

[tokyogasmask]

HI!

Channa Bleheri are gorgeous little snakeheads.
The "no tankmates" thing is irrelevant as these fish are awesome to watch as speicies only.

I have many SH ranging from dwarfs right up to the big boys of the Channa world, but my Bleheri have a little special place as they were my first SHs to have babies!

These guys are quite easy to breed once you have a true pair.

As for ph. Don't use chemicals to bring it down, just add plenty of bogwood, and if you can find them Kettapang leaves. My taps have a low ph anyway, so I am lucky but I have heard you can use a few drops of 100% lemon juice to your water changes. *I DONT KNOW IF THERE IS ANY TRUTH TO THAT*

Good luck, once you get it right they can look stunning. Here is a pic of my Male:

 

[SRIDENZ]

He is gorgeous!!!

Do you have any full tank shots so i can see wot it is i am aiming for?

I have done a little more reading and i believe that catfish and plecostomus may be able to tolerate the lower temps! I already have loadsa wood in my tank but the PH is still soaring at thwe high 8s.

THe plants are just samplers so i can see how my CO2 is working.

 

[tokyogasmask]

your tank will be fine, but you need to add loads more plantation and floating cover. Make it like a swamp/jungle, they will love it!

Even if you have to plastic or silk plants, get it dense as hell!

I wouldn't worry about the ph. too much, but my ph is always in the low 6s.

Small cats/plecs etc should be fine as long as they can take sub-tropical.

My bleheris are at 22c in the summer, 17-19c in the winter.

 

[SRIDENZ]

The tank is still cycling and i intend to go "jungle with the planting once the next pay packet comes in

the main problem i think im gonna have is finding the species for sale in the UK. I assume that 6 of these would be ok in a tank this size?

 

[tokyogasmask]

Six will be fine in that size.
Remember though if/when you get a pair they may go ape on the others. Especially if they start breeding.

 

[gigas12]

Hi,yes I agree with TGM,more plants and cover!

 

[Outlander]

Eheim Turf Pellets brought my Ph down from 7.8! to 6.9. I took some of the Eheim Subsrat Pro out of the filter, and replaced it with the pellets. I was told normal garden or potting compost would do the same job and be cheaper but I didn't want to take the risk of chemicals or such harming the fish and paid the extra. Well worth it imo. This + almond leaves + bog wood should bring your Ph down to a comfortable level.
As for plants, naturals are the way to go imo but plastic are better than nothing at all. Aponogeton (crispus/ulvaceus) and jungle vallisneria + some big swords should get your tank looking like a jungle in no time especially if you're using Co2!

Good luck, keep us up dated if possible.

 

[Kachua]

HI!

Channa Bleheri are gorgeous little snakeheads.
The "no tankmates" thing is irrelevant as these fish are awesome to watch as speicies only.

I have many SH ranging from dwarfs right up to the big boys of the Channa world, but my Bleheri have a little special place as they were my first SHs to have babies!

These guys are quite easy to breed once you have a true pair.

As for ph. Don't use chemicals to bring it down, just add plenty of bogwood, and if you can find them Kettapang leaves. My taps have a low ph anyway, so I am lucky but I have heard you can use a few drops of 100% lemon juice to your water changes. *I DONT KNOW IF THERE IS ANY TRUTH TO THAT*

Good luck, once you get it right they can look stunning. Here is a pic of my Male:

That is one beautiful Channa, care to share how you takecare of them to have such a great colour ?

 

[Berra]

If your running CO2 that should bring the Ph down a bit. Peat also works great for bring down Ph, but will give a brown tint to the water.