What species is that snakehead?

[HAHQ]

Hi everyone, I have been a newbie in the snakehead aspect,
and I am now wondering if my snakehead is Channa Bleheri or Channa orientalis?

Thank you very much for your help!

 

[JML1997]

bleheri

 

[Kanta]

wow nice snakehead. I don't know scientific names but I believe they are rainbow snakes.

 

[HAHQ]

as I browse thr the [ur=http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75290]CHANNA SPECIES GUIDE[/url] , these two species looks very much alike, except that bleheriis is more adopted to artificial foods and is abit smaller than that of orientalis... therefore I have my doubts...

 

[yh_loh]

I think your SH is more toward Channa orientalis since Bleheri got orange spot at the tail.

 

[HAHQ]

yh_loh, that's why i suspect it is not Channa Bleheri... but I cannot be sure...
I had been told that it is Bleheri by the shop...

 

[Brucki]

Hi,

you are all false.
bleheri have orange spots in the tail fin which this ones have NOT.
Orientalis do not have red spots on the body which this fisch have.

The fish above belong to a scientifically not descriebd species which is known as Channa sp. "Assam" or "lal cheng".
Is often called "blue bleheri" in the trade, but this is not a good name, cause these fish have nothing to do with Channa bleheri. Channa sp. "Assam" are male mouthbrooders and bleheri are NO mouthbrooders at all.

sp. Assam are a subtropical species, so keeping them constantly at warm temperatures they will not breed, loose colour and die faster. Often by a very nasty "flesheating" (probably bacterial) disease.

Cheers

 

[Brucki]

Hi,

a few pics for you, I will show just one pic of my sp. Assam, cause the Threadopener has some good pics of some nice sp. Assam above.
Channa sp. "Assam":

This is Channa orientalis:

These are Channa bleheri:

Cheers

 

[chronick]

100% assam

 

[Parachanna]

sp assam/Lal cheng