All fish / Channidae

Barca Snakehead

Channa barca

Also known as barca snakehead, barka snakehead, red barca, brown barca, rainbow snakehead, channa barka, ปลาช่อนบาร์ก้า, チャンナ・バルカ, channa barca, 巴卡雷龙, 火焰雷龙

A large, heavy-bodied snakehead with a bluish-grey to purple body covered in black spots and long fins edged in orange-red. It is one of the most sought-after and expensive snakeheads, kept by specialists for its striking colours and bold character.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

60 cm

Temperature

18 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

500 litres

Keep as

Alone, or a proven bonded pair

Diet

Carnivore: whole fish, prawns, earthworms, mussel and quality carnivore pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Brahmaputra basin in Assam, northeast India, and possibly Bangladesh

Breeding

In the wild it digs vertical burrows in riverbanks where pairs guard eggs and fry, and males may mouthbrood. Captive breeding is rare and needs a large tank, a bonded pair and seasonal temperature changes.

Good to know

It grows big, jumps strongly and needs a tightly fitted lid; it will eat any tankmate it can swallow. Live snakeheads are banned or need permits in the USA, parts of Europe, Australia and other places.