CHANNA PLEUROPHTHALMA

Native to southeastern Sumatra plus the Kapuas and Barito river basins of Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo.

Type locality is ‘Bandjarmasin, Borneo, Indonesia’.

Max size: 300 – 400 mm.

Aquarium size: An aquarium with base measuring at least 240 ∗ 60 cm is recommended.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 22 – 28 °C

pH: 6.0 – 7.5

Hardness: 36 – 215 ppm

Diet

An obligate predator which probably feeds on smaller fishes, amphibians and terrestrial insects in nature, but in most cases adapts well to dead alternatives in captivity.

Some specimens even accept dried foods though these should never form the staple diet.

Young fish can be offered chironomid larvae (bloodworm), small earthworms, chopped prawn and suchlike, while adults will accept strips of fish flesh, whole prawns/shrimp, mussels, etc.

This species should not be fed mammalian or avian meat such as beef heart or chicken since some of the lipids contained in these cannot be properly metabolised by the fish, and may cause excess fat deposits and even organ degeneration.

Similarly, there is no benefit in the use of ‘feeder’ fish such as livebearers or small goldfish which carry with them the risk of parasite or disease introduction, and at any rate tend not have a high nutritional value unless properly conditioned beforehand.

Behaviour

C. pleurophthalma is among the few snakeheads known to form aggregations throughout its lifetime, but is still best-maintained in a species-specific aquarium.

Although generally a shy and wary species, it may become bold and attempt to attack tankmates if maintained in a conspecific group. Any fish small enough to be considered prey will be damaged or eaten.