Forest snakehead

Channa lucius

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 68–86°F (20–30°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 15.7 in (40 cm)
Minimum tank: 70 gal (265 L)
Temperament: Aggressive
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Very rare
Origin: South East Asia
Family: Channidae

Overview

The forest snakehead is a large, aggressive predator that should be kept alone, as it will attack other snakeheads and eat anything it can swallow. It spends most of its time low in the tank, lying among wood and plants before ambushing food. Do not attempt a community; even a bonded pair needs a big tank and close watching. Feed meaty items such as earthworm, prawn, mussel and the occasional whole fish, offered every few days rather than daily, and skip live feeder fish that bring disease. It grows big and jumps hard, so give it at least 265 liters with a heavy, tight-fitting lid and plenty of cover.

In the wild

Channa lucius is found across Southeast Asia in slow rivers, swamps, canals and forest pools, often in shady, plant-choked water. Recreate that with a dimly lit tank, driftwood, leaf litter and clumps of tough plants over a soft, dark substrate, leaving open lanes where the fish can rest and lie in wait. Keep the temperature between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius and the pH from 6.0 to 7.5. Filtration can be gentle, as it comes from sluggish water, but stay on top of water changes because it is a large, messy carnivore.

Good to know

A member of the snakehead family Channidae, the forest snakehead reaches about 40 centimeters and has the elongate body, flattened head and toothy mouth typical of the group. Like all snakeheads it breathes air using a chamber above the gills and must reach the surface. Aquarium breeding is rarely recorded; in the wild the parents guard a clutch of floating eggs and stay with the fry. The name lucius, borrowed from the pike, points to its long, predatory shape.

Did you know

The species name lucius is the same word used for the pike, and it fits: the forest snakehead is a long, torpedo-shaped ambush hunter. Like other snakeheads it must breathe air and will drown if it cannot reach the surface.