Channa striata Care Guide
Channa striata is a large, hardy Asian food fish and snakehead that builds and guards nests; an aggressive species for big tanks only.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Channa striata, the striped snakehead, was described by Bloch in 1793. It is native to South and Southeast Asia, ranging across southern China, Pakistan, most of India, southern Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and most of Southeast Asia. It is an important food fish of considerable economic importance throughout its range.
Taxonomy
- Family: Channidae
- Genus: Channa
- Scientific name: Channa striata
- Described by: Bloch, 1793
- Common name: Striped Snakehead
Habitat
According to Wikipedia, the species inhabits freshwater plains and migrates from rivers and lakes into flooded fields. During dry seasons it survives by burrowing in the mud. Adults are dark brown with faint black bands across the body.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 1500 L
- Maximum size: up to about 1 m, rarely reached in the wild due to fishing
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
- A heavy, secured cover is essential
Diet
According to Wikipedia, Channa striata preys on frogs, water bugs and smaller fish, and will attack anything moving while breeding. It is a carnivore.
Compatibility
The species is aggressive and grows large; it is kept solitarily. It swims in the middle water column and is hardy but unsuitable for community settings.
Breeding
According to Wikipedia, both males and females help construct a nest out of aquatic vegetation during breeding, and the eggs are guarded by both parents. Breeding difficulty is intermediate.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
Channa striata Breeding Guide
Overview
Channa striata is a widespread Asian snakehead and an important food fish across its native range, which spans southern China, Pakistan, most of India, southern Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and most of Southeast Asia. It grows up to a metre in length, though fishing means this size is rarely found in the wild. It is common in freshwater plains, migrating from rivers and lakes into flooded fields and returning to permanent waters in the dry season, where it survives by burrowing in the mud.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
During breeding both males and females help to construct a nest out of water vegetation. The species breeds in ditches, ponds and flooded paddy fields. During mating in captivity, as soon as the male bends its body close to the female, milt is released following the release of the eggs. The fish becomes especially aggressive when breeding and will attack anything moving.
Egg & Fry Care
The eggs are guarded by both parents. The fry are reddish orange and are guarded by both parents until they turn greenish brown at around 5-6 cm. Young fish shoal at the surface where the male parent provides protection, with the offspring hiding below the surface water. FishBase models estimate a fecundity of approximately 324 eggs.
Breeding Setup
- Natural spawning sites: ditches, ponds and flooded paddy fields
- Temperature: 23-27 C
- pH: 7.0-8.0
- Adult size up to 100 cm SL; common length around 61 cm
Common Challenges
The species' adult size and breeding aggression make a domestic spawning attempt unsafe and impractical. A securely covered, very large enclosure would be required, and surplus fish must be kept apart from a breeding pair.