All fish / Channidae

Great Snakehead

Channa marulius

Also known as bullseye snakehead, cobra snakehead, giant snakehead, marulius snakehead, emperor snakehead, marulia, murrel, great murrel, ocellated snakehead, ปลาช่อนอินเดีย, haruan, toman bunga

A large, powerful snakehead with a long body, long dorsal and anal fins and a distinctive dark eyespot ringed with orange near the tail. Young fish show orange and black stripes, while adults turn grey brown with dark blotches. It is kept by dedicated predator keepers for its striking looks, intelligence and interaction with its owner.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

60 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

1500 litres

Keep as

Keep singly; pairs only in very large tanks

Diet

Carnivore: fish, prawns, earthworms, mussels and pellets for predators

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

South Asia: Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka; reports further east may be related species

Breeding

Pairs build a floating nest among vegetation and both parents fiercely guard the eggs and fry. Captive breeding is rarely achieved because of the enormous space needed and aggression between partners.

Good to know

Can exceed 1 m in the wild, so a huge tank with a tight lid is essential as it jumps and can breathe air. Possession and import of snakeheads are banned or restricted in many places, including the USA and parts of Europe, Australia and Singapore, so check local law.