The Philippines has 3 species of snakeheads... Locally known as "Dalag" or "Bulig" in some parts of the country, and a host of other names.... after all we have about 7100 islands...
Snakeheads are locally considered a food fish.
The most common species is the C. striata. This is available in most fish markets and may be seen or caught in most freshwater waters.... from narrow canals to rivers.
C melasoma and C maculata are said to be native species but I have never seen one alive, dead in the fish market or at the end of my fishing line...
In the aquarium hobby, the only species offered is the C micropeltes. This was introduced in the hobby since the early 1980s. For about 20 years this has been the only species offered to local hobbyists.
The past 2 years, I have been involved in the local aquarium industry and have offered Filipino hobbyists with the following:
C. bleheri
C. sp Assam
C. burmanica?
This was sold to me as C. burmanica.... but many have said it is not... anyone pls care to properly identify?
C. aurantimaculata
My favorite....
C. panaw
C. marulia
C. lucia
C. pleurophthalma
P. obscura
Snakeheads are locally considered a food fish.
The most common species is the C. striata. This is available in most fish markets and may be seen or caught in most freshwater waters.... from narrow canals to rivers.
C melasoma and C maculata are said to be native species but I have never seen one alive, dead in the fish market or at the end of my fishing line...
In the aquarium hobby, the only species offered is the C micropeltes. This was introduced in the hobby since the early 1980s. For about 20 years this has been the only species offered to local hobbyists.
The past 2 years, I have been involved in the local aquarium industry and have offered Filipino hobbyists with the following:
C. bleheri
![](/forums/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi46.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff131%2FAngelAmpil%2FFish%2520Pics%2FChannableheri3.jpg&hash=3c4918b084af3a1b817f1b74dafa791a)
C. sp Assam
![](/forums/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi46.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff131%2FAngelAmpil%2FFish%2520Pics%2FAnnabantids%2FChannableheri04.jpg&hash=ed58a41061b271b12c2667aaeacd818d)
C. burmanica?
![](/forums/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi46.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff131%2FAngelAmpil%2FFish%2520Pics%2FAnnabantids%2FCburmanica01.jpg&hash=24f4226d8513ca6d9897d331e65c0bb1)
This was sold to me as C. burmanica.... but many have said it is not... anyone pls care to properly identify?
C. aurantimaculata
![](/forums/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi46.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff131%2FAngelAmpil%2FFish%2520Pics%2FAnnabantids%2FCaurantimaculata02.jpg&hash=52c5f3d936aa848401e4463ae7b88b22)
My favorite....
C. panaw
![](/forums/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi46.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff131%2FAngelAmpil%2FFish%2520Pics%2FAnnabantids%2FCpanaw02.jpg&hash=3e978facfc062b1110e5c7ac877b3f0b)
C. marulia
![](/forums/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi46.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff131%2FAngelAmpil%2FFish%2520Pics%2FAnnabantids%2FCmarulia04.jpg&hash=2122be56aaff320955890bcb9466a086)
C. lucia
![](/forums/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi46.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff131%2FAngelAmpil%2FFish%2520Pics%2FAnnabantids%2FChannalucia05.jpg&hash=e03c9bfa1f43e308b6a8673ffef8ca69)
C. pleurophthalma
![](/forums/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi46.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff131%2FAngelAmpil%2FFish%2520Pics%2FAnnabantids%2FCphleurophthalma01.jpg&hash=13631d36e4f2be2a6f417dc590f4cc96)
P. obscura
![](/forums/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi46.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff131%2FAngelAmpil%2FFish%2520Pics%2FAnnabantids%2FCobscura01.jpg&hash=733b304f08c5842fd93e9688a464da0f)