All fish / Channidae

Black snakehead

Channa melasoma

Also known as black snakehead, black channa, melasoma snakehead, channa melasoma borneo, ปลาช่อนดำ, haruan hitam, bujuk hitam, チャンナ・メラソーマ, gabus hitam, jalai, 黑鳢, 黑雷龙

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Channa melasoma is a long, cylindrical snakehead. Adults are dark grey to almost black all over, and juveniles have orange or reddish edges to the fins. It comes from soft, acidic blackwater peat swamps and forest streams, and keepers who like big, characterful predators value it for its plain dark colouring and its shy, watchful behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

30 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

4.5 to 6.5

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a bonded pair

Diet

Carnivore: fish, prawns, earthworms, insects and meaty frozen foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southeast Asia: Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, Philippines (Palawan)

Breeding

The parents guard the eggs and fry, and the species is believed to be a mouthbrooder like its close relatives. Captive breeding is rarely reported and depends on getting a compatible pair that will put up with each other.

Good to know

It is a predator that will eat any fish it can swallow, and it jumps well, so the tank needs a tight lid. Snakeheads are banned or need a licence in some places, including the USA (federal injurious species list) and parts of Australia and Europe, so check local laws before buying.