All fish / Channidae

Giant Snakehead

Channa micropeltes

Also known as red snakehead, giant red snakehead, toman, indonesian snakehead, red striped snakehead, redline snakehead, snakehead murrel, ปลาชะโด, ikan toman, レッドスネークヘッド, ジャイアントスネークヘッド, 小盾鳢

Juveniles sell as attractive red fish with two black stripes along the body, but adults turn dark blue-grey to black with pale markings and become huge, heavy-bodied predators. It is kept by experienced monster fish keepers for its intelligence, bold personality and impressive size. It breathes air at the surface and needs access to it.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

70 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

2000 litres

Keep as

Keep alone as an adult; only a bonded pair in very large systems

Diet

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

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Southeast Asia: Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo; populations in India are disputed

Breeding

Pairs spawn at the surface and both parents guard the floating eggs and fry very aggressively. Captive breeding is rare because of the space needed and the danger of pairs fighting.

Good to know

Grows to around 1 m and will eat any tankmate it can catch, and the tank needs a heavy, secure lid. Live snakeheads are illegal to import or keep in the USA, several Australian states and other places, so check local laws before buying.