Giant snakehead

Channa micropeltes

Also known as Red snakehead, Giant red snakehead, Toman, Indonesian snakehead

FreshwaterFish

Giant snakehead (Channa micropeltes) — George Chernilevsky · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 39.4 in (100 cm)
Minimum tank: 528 gal (2,000 L)
Temperament: Aggressive
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Common
Origin: Native to large rivers, lakes and reservoirs across Southeast Asia, including the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins.
Family: Channidae

Overview

This is a genuine monster fish that outgrows almost all home tanks: it reaches a metre or more and needs at least 2000 litres, so it is really a fish for very large custom systems or public aquaria. Keep it at 24 to 28 C and pH 6.0 to 7.5 with a strong, sealed lid and heavy filtration. It is highly predatory and aggressive and cannot be trusted with tankmates. Check local law first, as keeping it is illegal in some places.

In the wild

The giant snakehead is the monster of the family, red-flanked as a juvenile and turning grey with a pale belly as it grows. It is a fast, powerful open-water predator of large rivers and reservoirs. Adults are bulky, aggressive and capable of taking large prey.

Good to know

Channa micropeltes is one of the largest snakeheads, commonly reaching about 100 cm and up to around 130 cm in the wild. Parents guard their young in large schools, and adults defending fry have injured swimmers. It is banned or restricted in many regions because of its invasive potential.