Channa collection

[_kai_]

Hello everyone, been quiet in the hobby for a very long time mainly because i had no time for anything. I have slightly more time now and i have expanded my collection of my favourite fish family, Channidae . Here are some pictures, hope you enjoy them!

Start off with my favourite in the collection, Channa aurantimaculata.

Channa aurantimaculata by Aristoheliam, on Flickr

Channa aurantimaculata by Aristoheliam, on Flickr

Channa aurantimaculata by Aristoheliam, on Flickr
This is why we need covers

Channa aurantimaculata by Aristoheliam, on Flickr

Channa aurantimaculata by Aristoheliam, on Flickr
Channa harcourtbutleri. Very happy with these guys as they gave me a tank full of fries!

Channa harcourtbutleri by Aristoheliam, on Flickr

Channa harcourtbutleri by Aristoheliam, on Flickr
Channa stewartii female (by the way, the planarias you see are all gone now)

Channa stewartii by Aristoheliam, on Flickr
Channa ornatipinnis

Channa ornatipinnis by Aristoheliam, on Flickr
And possibly the most remarkable colour i've seen on a fish. My oldest snakehead, Chana sp 'red fin'

Channa sp 'red fin' by Aristoheliam, on Flickr

Channa sp 'red fin' by Aristoheliam, on Flickr

Channa sp 'red fin' by Aristoheliam, on Flickr
Thanks for viewing!

[longkanghee]

solid photos! nice fishes. GOOD JOB!

[sakuras]

Beautiful. How big is your tank?

[_kai_]

Thanks guys. Tank size for the dwarf snakeheads are 2ft long. For the aurantimaculata, it's a 2ft cube, plans to upgrade as it may be too small. Even though she don't use the full tank.

[Fendi]

Awesome looking fishes!!

[delhezi]

You're in Singapore!? How do these guys fare in our temperatures? I made some thread but I haven't really come to a decision!
Looking forward to getting the fantastic channa bleheri.

[_kai_]

Thanks Fendi .
Delhezi, yes i'm in Singapore. I only chill their waters at night and it remains relatively cool throughout the day. They will only die if they do not have chilled water for long term, like say a few months. That's where all the fungus and fin problems start to come in. I have been keeping my Channa sp 'red fin' this way for almost 2 or 2 and a half years and she is very healthy.
If you cannot provide these sub-tropical conditions, why not get a tropical snakehead? They are very beautiful as well!

[delhezi]

I cool my room down to 24 degrees at night with the aircon, whilst the temperature of the water throughout the whole day is typically from 29-32, falling to about 27.5 at night. Strangely, the room is always cooler than the tank water. Is this a phenomenon you have observed? What temperatures are you using?

I like snakeheads with lots of blue and I can't get large tanks.

I will try and experiment and put ice into the water first, because water should by right warm up and cool down much slower than the air.

Thanks!

[_kai_]

I never did experience this before. Maybe lower the temperature more? My tanks are extremely cold after the night and remain around 24 degrees during the entire day. I put lots of plants, maybe that helps lower the temperature as it blocks the light or something, im not entirely sure. But 29 - 32 is very high. I recommend you figure a solution out first before getting a C bleheri, otherwise you will waste your money and a fish's life. Perhaps use a fan with the aircon? That may work.

Ah snakeheads with lots of blue. I see, than only those sub-tropical ones will suit your taste. You may consider a Channa aurantimaculata once you figured out the temperature problem, and if i can remember correctly, I read they like warmer waters (but not tropical temperatures) of around 25 or so degrees in the summer to induce breeding. These do not need extremely large tanks too. Plus they are extremely beautiful.
All the best!

-EDIT-
Just to add, you can keep Channa gachuas! But you got to know where they come from, some do originate from tropical areas. I have a healthy specimen that's beautifully coloured at a young age and i'm keeping it at tropical temperatures.
Also, one of the most beautiful, Channa pleurophthalma is tropical. Very very beautiful, grows to about the same size as C aurantimaculata.

[delhezi]

I agree; I have done a lot of research and am currently dipping my hands into saltwater. It could be that my thermometer has been messed up.

If I can do something up to 2.5ft max, and both pleuros and auramanticula need much larger tanks than that to be properly appreciated.

If you've got a channa gachua that's predominantly blue and still tropical, please let me know if you're willing to sell or where I can get one.

[cherabin]

Hi kai. You run chillers for all the channa tanks?

[_kai_]

I agree; I have done a lot of research and am currently dipping my hands into saltwater. It could be that my thermometer has been messed up.

If I can do something up to 2.5ft max, and both pleuros and auramanticula need much larger tanks than that to be properly appreciated.

If you've got a channa gachua that's predominantly blue and still tropical, please let me know if you're willing to sell or where I can get one.

Ah i see, 2.5ft is no good for pleuros and aurantimaculatas. About the gachua, i sent you a pm.

Hi kai. You run chillers for all the channa tanks?

Hi Cherabin! My tanks are not on chillers, it will be too expensive even for my small collection. I run it on air con at night and timed fans during the day im not at home.

[delhezi]

What are your tanks positioned? Mine are actually quite near the windowsill, but definitely away from direct sunlight.

Do you mind resending the PM, I did not actually receive it.

How large will your aurantimaculata tanks be in the end?

[_kai_]

Hi i position my tank near the windows. But i also position the aircon direction-er thing (i don't know) to blow directly onto my tanks so they get really really cold in the nights. Almost like ice water haha! They love it though.

[_kai_]

Some photos for the weekends.

Channa aurantimaculata by Aristoheliam, on Flickr

Channa aurantimaculata by Aristoheliam, on Flickr

Channa ornatipinnis by Aristoheliam, on Flickr

Channa ornatipinnis by Aristoheliam, on Flickr
Thanks for viewing

[_kai_]

Allow me to resurrect my old thread. I had a little more free time on my hands and would like to shar with all of you again, my channa photos .

Channa diplogramma feeding shots


Channa diplogramma by Aristoheliam, on Flickr



Channa diplogramma by Aristoheliam, on Flickr


Channa diplogramma by Aristoheliam, on Flickr


Channa sp "Fire & Ice" by Aristoheliam, on Flickr


Channa asiatica by Aristoheliam, on Flickr

Thanks for viewing

[sakuras]

Stunning as always Maybe a FTS?

[GHD97]

Where did you buy these fish? online?:O they're stunning!!!

[AQMS]

WOW!!
How many species of snakehead do you have???
Did you upgrade to a bigger tank? or still the 2 feet?

[AhVy]

Wow...i didn't know channa so nice one...woo

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