All fish / Channidae

Blotched snakehead

Channa maculata

Also known as blotched snakehead, formosan snakehead, taiwanese snakehead, spotted snakehead, chinese snakehead, snakehead, ปลาช่อนจีน, ikan haruan, タイワンドジョウ, 雷魚, ikan gabus, 斑鳢

A big, heavy-bodied snakehead with a long dorsal and anal fin and bold dark blotches on a pale brown to grey body. It is kept by keepers of large predatory fish for its hardiness, strong personality and tolerance of cool water, and is an important food fish in China.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

50 cm

Temperature

12 to 28 °C

pH

6.5 to 8

Smallest tank

800 litres

Keep as

Keep singly, or as a bonded adult pair in a very large tank

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southern China (including Hainan), Taiwan and northern Vietnam; introduced to Japan, the Philippines and elsewhere

Breeding

Pairs build a floating nest from vegetation and both parents guard the buoyant eggs and fry fiercely. It is bred in large numbers in Chinese and Taiwanese fish farms, but home breeding needs a huge tank and a compatible pair.

Good to know

Grows large and will eat any tankmate it can swallow; it breathes air and can jump or crawl, so a tight lid is essential. Snakeheads are banned or restricted in the USA, Australia and some other countries, so check local laws before buying.