Rainbow snakehead
Channa bleheri
Also known as Assam snakehead, Bleher's snakehead
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 59–77°F
- 15–25°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 7.9 in
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 42 gal
- 160 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Channidae
- Origin
- Native to the Brahmaputra basin in Assam, northeast India, in small streams, ponds and marshes.
Overview
A manageable snakehead at around 20 cm, it can live in a tank of at least 160 litres with a very tight lid, as all snakeheads jump and can breathe air. It comes from subtropical streams, so keep it cooler at 15 to 25 C with a seasonal dip, and pH 6.0 to 7.5. It can be kept as a pair or small group in a well-planted tank with dither fish too large to eat. Feed prawns, earthworms, insects and other meaty foods.
In the wild
The rainbow snakehead is a small, colourful dwarf snakehead marked with orange, blue and red on the flanks and fins. It comes from cool hill streams and spends much of its time hovering among plants and wood. It is an air-breather that surfaces regularly for a gulp of air.
Good to know
Channa bleheri is one of the true dwarf snakeheads, staying under about 20 cm. Unlike most snakeheads it does not mouthbrood; the pair guard a raft of floating eggs and the fry at the surface. It also lacks pelvic fins, a feature shared with only a few close relatives.
Did you know
Rainbow snakeheads can survive brief spells out of water and will wriggle overland between pools, so an escape-proof lid is not optional.
Common questions
What size tank does a Rainbow snakehead need?
A Rainbow snakehead needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Rainbow snakehead need?
A Rainbow snakehead is comfortable at 59–77°F (15–25°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Rainbow snakehead get?
An adult Rainbow snakehead reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).
Related species
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