Bullseye snakehead

Channa marulius

Also known as Great snakehead, Cobra snakehead, Murrel

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 47.2 in (120 cm)
Minimum tank: 396 gal (1,500 L)
Temperament: Aggressive
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Native to rivers, lakes and canals across South and Southeast Asia, from India through Thailand.
Family: Channidae

Overview

A large predator reaching about 120 cm, it needs at least 1500 litres with a long footprint and a heavy, sealed lid. Keep it at 22 to 28 C and pH 6.5 to 7.5. It is predatory and territorial, so keep it singly or with very large robust tankmates only. Feed prawns, fish, earthworms and other meaty foods, and confirm it is legal to keep where you live.

In the wild

The bullseye snakehead is a large, elongate predator named for the dark eyespot ringed in orange at the base of the tail. It is found in rivers, lakes and canals across a wide Asian range. Adults are strong swimmers that hunt fish and crustaceans.

Good to know

Channa marulius commonly reaches around 120 cm and is one of the larger snakeheads. It is an air-breather that can survive in stagnant, low-oxygen water. Established invasive populations exist in parts of the United States.