ALL ABOUT THE GIANT AND INDIA GIANT SNAKEHEAD

[Taker]

More to read about the Giant Snakehead.


*When snakeheads mate, they are usually monogamous for an entire breeding season, and perhaps throughout their lifetimes.

*Parent snakeheads guard their young vigorously. Channa Micropeltes, reportedly attacked, and in some instances killed, humans who approached the mass of young.

*Spawning Giant Snakeheads have a fascinating behavior pattern. The adults guard the balls of blood red fry and push them, at intervals, to the surface to breath air. Spotting a ball of surfacing fry, following, and then casting to them can be an exciting contest. Of course we are not trying to catch fry. We are trying to catch the guards.

*Angling for the Giant Snakehead when the unique opportunity of the fish’s parental behavior while protecting it’s young presents itself is far above any other kind of fishing the most exciting of all.


*At the very moment I am writing these lines, I can see in my mind the whole scenario of a Giant Snakehead striking at a lure on top water. Bang! What a sublime visual treat is that all of a sudden explosion coming out of nowhere, that shotgun kind of sound going with it! There is absolutely nothing to be compared to that few seconds instant of a Giant Snakehead’s strike. It is the Snakehead in its all splendor as a unique true warrior of the deep, as a “go for the kill” hitman who doesn’t know the meaning of fear. That strike is my ultimate kick, my brain orgasm, everything making my life worth living as an angler. The fight that will follow is secondary; it has almost no importance to me. The size of the fish, big or small, doesn’t matter either. To make it bite and to experience its attack is only what matters. The most difficult the challenge, the better!

 

[Taker]

And more pictures! the Giant Snakehead in the first picture has such a strong colour and pattern, it looks so fresh and healthy.

 

[Taker]

And more to read!


*To hook up a mother Giant Snakehead escorting her ball of baby fry might sounds kind of cruel for non-angling people who call themselves animal lovers. Too often animal lovers don’t have a single clue about the true reality and the cruelty of the water world and its inhabitants. The Giant snakehead is a predator fish that maims or kills anything crossing its territory. It is a behavior deep down in its genes unlike any other predator fish species.


*I'm a true snakehead lover and I see a benefit in hooking a parent snakehead as long as the fish is released safely next to its young. In fact in the particular context of Thailand where catch and release is just starting to be practiced by by local anglers, I feel I am almost saving a fish’s life each time I hook one of them. The fish learned a lesson about it. Once released, more cautious and prudent, it won’t bite again that easily for a while. The next local angler who will find that snakehead with its ball of fry will have to be very skilful to make it bite again. An almost certain death then is avoided...


*A parent snakehead caught and kept by a fellow local angler for food is in fact what really breaks my heart. Is that so difficult to some to understand the fact that a parent snakehead caught but returned to the water means some of its thousands babies will stay alive and growing up later will became adults perpetuating the species and our good fishing at the same time? A single dead parent snakehead means thousands less fish in a reservoir in the following years. It is so evident. Mother Nature could be compared to a bank account. It works in a similar way. If you withdraw too often and too much from it, sooner or later you won’t have much left; some of these days maybe almost nothing left at all. Our waters are a bank account that all of us anglers are sharing together. It is mine. It is yours. Catching but releasing is like borrowing money and returning it next so later others can use some too.

 

[Taker]

After spawning, both the male and female parents can be found escorting and protecting their balls of fry, “luk krok” as they are called in the Thai language. That ball of fry will continue to remain in a tight school for several months before separating and becoming totally self-sufficient. When first born, the baby snakeheads are black in color, they then turn bright red and become more visible. The shimmering, darting mass of baby fish appears as an underwater shadow, changing shape and direction while guided by the parents. The “luk krok” (Thai name for the ball of fry) varies in size from about 0.5 to 1.5 square meters and moves vertically and horizontally. Occasionally, when sensing danger, the parents will split the ball apart and then reform. They eventually rise to the surface in what appears to be a sudden, very isolated rainstorm hitting the water. This periodic revelation of presence sets the stage for some exciting action.

 

[Taker]

Thailand's breathtaking jungle waters, a true fishing paradise for Snakehead hunters.

 

[PhullTank57]

what are those sticking out of the water... bamboo?

 

[Taker]

Yes, just random sticks and they make it look wilder, just amazing. Below is by a Giant Snakehead owner from the United Kingdom with beautiful pictures, and what he says is no doubt adding a lot more to this thread.


Tropical fish 10-12"inch Giant Red Snakehead.

Description: I am selling my Red Snakehead.
He is big and thick and will do more growing yet!!
i will only sell to UK public (as banned in many countries).
He will eat almost anything!! including his owner!! and is fearless!!!
I mean fearless!! when you put your hand in he will not flinch!! in fact to move him you would have to hit him (at your own risk of course).
He has shared a tank with 9 large piranhas for the last 2 months and controls half!
read up about them and make sure what you are getting into.
I love him but can't buy a bigger tank until I move which at the moment is unknown.
Sensible offers please.
If you look carefull in pic 2 you can see him top right.

Contact Information
Advertiser: d dawson
Telephone: 01638663189
City: newmarket
County: suffolk

 

[Taker]

Excellent!


Common name: Giant Snakehead

Family: Channidae

Order: Perciformes

Class: Actinopterygii

Maximum size: 150 cm / 60 inches / 5 feet

Environment: freshwater

Origin: Channa micropeltes (Giant Snakehead) is found near the coast of India, Thailand, Mekong basin of Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Southeastern Sumatra

Temperament: Aggressive and predatory.

Company: Channa micropeltes (Giant Snakehead) should not be kept with smaller species.

Water parameters: Temperature 22-28C / 72-82 F; pH 6-7.5

Aquarium setup: Channa micropeltes (Giant Snakehead) is as adult only suitable for large ponds, The aquarium or pond should be decorated with open areas and hiding places. There should be several planted areas available. They need surface access to survive.

Feeding: Channa micropeltes (Giant Snakehead) accept most large meaty food types.

Breeding: Channa micropeltes (Giant Snakehead) build a nest in among plants by clearing an area. The eggs float up to the surface where they are guarded by both parents. The parents guard both eggs and fry.

 

[Taker]

This is very interesting and will be very informative for new Giant Snakehead keepers.



The Giant / Red snakehead, Channa micropeltes

Many a fishkeeper has unwittingly introduced this month’s featured fish into the aquarium as a colourful youngster - but the bright colour fades as the fish grows... and grows. RICHARD HARDWICK of Wharf Aquatics explains why the Red snakehead should be handled with the utmost of care...

The Red Snakehead originates from Asia including India, Thailand, Burma and Malaysia. It inhabits rivers, lakes and swamps and can survive drought when oxygen levels are low. This is done with the use of an accessory breathing organ that enables it to take in atmospheric air.

Red snakeheads are extremely desirable particularly when young, displaying vivid colouration with red being the most dominant. However, this gives way to more subdued shades of colour, but it is still a striking fish.

These fish are victims of the all-too-familiar Red tail catfish syndrome: people just cannot resist that cute little fellow. As a result, the fish are bought from dealers who don’t know the eventual sizes, or by people who are ignorant as to the long-term well-being of this species.
This fish can reach 90cm/36” or more, even in the aquarium, so they need spacious accommodation and excellent filtration. I would use large, external bucket filters because being piscivores (see fact file), they can be rather messy feeders.

A steady flow back to the tank is best as snakeheads use their auxilliary air-breathing organs to obtain some oxygen. Ensure there is a good gap between the covers and the water’s surface or the fish will drown.
Twice weekly water changes of 25% are beneficial. This is due
to the food they consume,
which is very rich in protein.

Take care...
Red snakeheads are best kept singly when adult unless they can be provided with aquaria in excess of 2270l./500 gal. Make no bones about it - this fish can inflict serious injury not only to other fish, but also to its keeper. It’s probably one of the most dangerous oddballs one could wish to keep in an aquarium.

Some people do keep the snakehead with other fish; all I would say to them is to keep a close eye on the situation as this fish rarely takes prisoners...
If someone came into our shop asking for the freshwater equivalent of a great white shark, the Red snakehead would be for them. With its dark top, white underside, temperament and fine set of teeth, who would argue...?
But this really is a fish for experienced fishkeepers only.

 

[Taker]

Continues...

Fact File

The Red snakehead
Channa (Ophicephalus) micropeltes

Size: This fish can grow to over 90cm/36” - even under captive conditions.
Guide price: Prices start at around £6 for a juvenile and £40-50 for a 30-38cm (12-15”) specimen.

Aquarium care: Because this fish will reach its full potential in captivity, I would suggest a tank size of 180 x 90 x 60cm (6’ x 3’ x 2’) as a minimum, although I would start them off in aquaria much smaller than this during the growing-on process because it is easier to offer food.

The best tank set-up would include some surface cover in the way of floating plants to give it a sense of security. Other plants would be beneficial, but anchoring them can prove difficult with such a large fish parading around.
Fine gravel makes the ideal substrate as anything lighter such as sand will end up being suspended in the water by the movements of such a monster. This will in turn block most filter systems.Standard aquarium lighting will suffice.

Water parameters: These fish like slightly warmer water than many tropical fish at around 26-27°C/78-82°F.

General hardness and pH values are
not critical - just avoid extremes.

Diet: This fish is a true piscivore, devouring large amounts of fish as well as the occasional water vole that passes by. However, they do not require live fishes in their diets, readily accepting sprats, mussels, large earthworms and chunks of beef heart from the butcher.

Young snakeheads need feeding on a daily basis while they are growing, but once they reach 45-90cm/18-24”, two feeds a week will do fine.
Fully grown fish should be fed using forceps to prevent injury - to the human.

Breeding: Little is known about breeding behaviour, but they are said to be fiercely protective of their young, even to the point of attacking humans who so much as dare to invade their space.

Richard Hardwick (published online: 11.04.02) 665 words, 6234 hits