TankBud

Ocellated snakehead

Channa pleurophthalma

FreshwaterFish

Ocellated snakehead (Channa pleurophthalma)
Hectonichus · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
15.7 in
40 cm
Minimum tank
227 gal
860 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
Species tank only
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very rare
Family
Channidae
Origin
Sumatra, Borneo

Overview

The ocellated snakehead is one of the calmer snakeheads, but it is still a large predator. It needs a big species tank and suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The ocellated snakehead is named for the dark spots on its body. Both its common and scientific names come from the Greek for eye-like. Those false eyespots may confuse a predator about which end is the head.

Caring for the ocellated snakehead

Give the ocellated snakehead a long tank of at least 227 gal (860 L), since it grows large. Keep the tank well covered, because it can jump. Driftwood, some hardy plants, open swimming lanes and a soft, dark substrate suit it, with a calm surface for air breathing.

It prefers warm, stable water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Steady conditions and generous water changes keep this large fish in good health. Feed meaty foods such as prawn, mussel, earthworm and the occasional whole fish. Skip live feeder fish, which can carry disease.

It patrols the middle of the tank rather than hugging the bottom. It is less inclined than most snakeheads to attack its own kind, but it will eat any fish small enough to swallow. Keep it in a species tank. Its breeding habits are poorly documented, and aquarium spawning is rarely recorded.

Good to know

The ocellated snakehead belongs to the snakehead family Channidae, and like all snakeheads it breathes air. Its spots, called ocelli, are ringed in orange and run along the flanks and the base of the tail.

In the wild

The ocellated snakehead is native to Sumatra and Borneo, where it lives in rivers, canals and floodplain lakes.

Common questions

What size tank does an ocellated snakehead need?

An ocellated snakehead needs at least 227 gal (860 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an ocellated snakehead need?

An ocellated snakehead is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does an ocellated snakehead eat?

An ocellated snakehead eats meaty foods such as prawn, mussel, earthworm and the occasional whole fish. Skip live feeder fish, which can carry disease.

How big does an ocellated snakehead get?

An adult ocellated snakehead reaches about 15.7 in (40 cm).

Related species