snake heads in the Philippines

[cichlidinsomniac]

My girlfriend and I are going to the philippines for spring break, she has family there. I was wondering what types of sh you can find in PI

 

[tropheus]

straita
melasoma
maculata

and rumors of argus

cheers col

 

[King-eL]

In the wild
-Chevron snakehead (Channa striata)
-Black snakehead (Channa melasoma)
-Blotched snakehead (Channa maculata)

In LFS
-Ocellated snakehead (Channa pleurophthalma)
-Emperor snakehead (Channa marulioides)
-Black snakehead (Channa melasoma)
-Dwarf snakehead (Channa gachua)
-Rainbow snakehead (Channa bleheri)
-Blotched snakehead (Channa maculata)
-Giant snakehead (Channa micropeltes)
-Northern snakead (Channa argus)

In fish market (Mostly dead already)
-Chevron snakehead (Channa striata)
-Black snakehead (Channa melasoma)
-Blotched snakehead (Channa maculata)

When you go there ask for a "dalag" (Filipino word for snakeheads) Usually refers to c. striata as they are commonly seen in the market.

 

[arkmann]

When you go there ask for a "dalag" (Filipino word for snakeheads) Usually refers to c. striata as they are commonly seen in the market.

I have to disagree on that statement parekoy. My father sent me all the time in wet markets and "dalag" is in no way a term for a snakehead.

 

[King-eL]

I have to disagree on that statement parekoy. My father sent me all the time in wet markets and "dalag" is in no way a term for a snakehead.

Dalag is channa striata. Their are other names for them in other region in the Philippines. It's what we call in our area.

 

[Aircut64]

Channa Micropeltes can also be found in wild in the Philippines..People have realesed them.

 

[cichlidinsomniac]

thanks everyone

 

[Jungle]

Hello,

Unfortunately there is a limited amount of interest in channa's here compared to arowana's, luo-han's, and dat's. I'll elaborate on some of what King-eL mentioned:

In the wild
-Chevron snakehead (Channa striata)
-Black snakehead (Channa melasoma)
-Blotched snakehead (Channa maculata) - there are rumors of sightings, and databases state that they have been introduced in the PI, but no one that I know has been able to really collect wild samples, unless it's in some distance province in one of the distant islands somewhere (we are the largest archipelago). If any of you knows anyone who does catch this species in one of our local waterways please hook me up with that connection.

In LFS

None of these channa's are commonly available in LFS's here, but they do pop up every once in a while, with the exception of the micropeltes (juvenile striata's and melasoma's sometimes get mixed into bags of feeder "kataba"), you'll have to go to a specialty fish store to find them, and if you request maculata's they'll actually have to import them.

-Ocellated snakehead (Channa pleurophthalma)- These are not commonly available in LFS's as the only reports that I've read of people that have pluero's bought the species in themselves.
-Emperor snakehead (Channa marulioides)
-Black snakehead (Channa melasoma)
-Dwarf snakehead (Channa gachua)- The species labeled "Channa Burmanica" bought in could possibly be an undescribed species of gachua.
-Rainbow snakehead (Channa bleheri)
-Blotched snakehead (Channa maculata)-Strangely enough, for a channa species that is supposed to be in the wild here, whenever I ask for these I'm always told that they'll check their import list.
-Giant snakehead (Channa micropeltes)- Available in almost every LFS.
-Northern snakead (Channa argus)- Never seen these here, it's possible that these are misidentified maculata's.
-Channa Sp. Assam
-Channa Panaw
-Channa Aurantimaculata


In fish market (Mostly dead already)
-Chevron snakehead (Channa striata)
-Black snakehead (Channa melasoma)
-Blotched snakehead (Channa maculata)- Never seen these channa in a fish market.

When you go there ask for a "dalag" (Filipino word for snakeheads) Usually refers to c. striata as they are commonly seen in the market.

- Absolutely correct on this point.

 

[jk41589]

Channa Striatas? We call 'em Bulig. I saw a 2 footer in the market, too bad it was dead. I would have bought it. :/

 

[jk41589]

The one in my sig is a BULIG(striata), they taste good.