All fish / Channidae

Malabar snakehead

Channa diplogramma

Also known as malabar snakehead, malabar giant snakehead, channa diplogramma, red snakehead juvenile, bicolour snakehead, チャンナ・ディプログラマ, 马拉巴尔雷龙, 印度红雷龙

Juveniles are striking, with bright orange bodies and two bold black stripes along each side. As they grow, the colours fade to silver-grey with darker markings and they become a very large, powerful predator. It is kept by dedicated snakehead enthusiasts for its rarity, intelligence and interactive behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

70 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

1500 litres

Keep as

Keep singly or as a bonded pair

Diet

Carnivore: fish, prawns, earthworms, mussel and large carnivore pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern Western Ghats, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India

Breeding

Pairs guard their eggs and fry, as is typical of large snakeheads. Captive breeding is very rare because of the adults' size and the huge tanks needed, so most fish in the trade have been collected from the wild.

Good to know

Adults can grow beyond 80 cm and need a huge, tightly lidded tank; only keep alone or with very large robust tankmates. Snakeheads are banned or restricted in several countries, including the USA, and this species is listed as Vulnerable, so check local laws before buying.