Channa Bleheri setup: Need Advice

[Mir]

Hi Bros,

I have recently been "poisoned" by Channa Bleheri. Saw some and I must get them

I have a 2 ft tank with a tight cover. Haven't really stocked yet.

The tank is well planted with hardy plants (Amazon Swords, Java Ferns, Java Moss, Anubias, and some floating plants)

Current inhabitants of the tank
2 Veiltail Half Black Angelfish
2 Chocolate Gouramis
2 Hillstream Loaches

My stocking plans

1) Add 5 more chocolate gouramis (they only get to 2 inches each)
2) Add two African Butterfly fish (Pantadon Buchholzi) (grows to 4 inches)
3) Add 2 Channa Bleheris

Do you think I can add the 2 channas for this setup? If no, which fish(es) should I remove?

Given a choice, I really want to keep the Angelfish, hillstream loaches and add at least 1 african butterfly fish. The african butterfly fish should only occupy the top of the tank, so maybe that should be fine. The hillstream loaches are almost hidden in the landscape, so I also don't see a problem. I can do away with the chocolate gouramis (but I also very "sayang" them


Any Bros can help with my dilemma. My priority is to establish a Channa Tank with some other suitable inhabitants as well

Also, any comments if 2 channa's can be housed in my setup (2 ft densely planted with lots hiding spots )

Thanks Bros and hope the channa "poison" will continue to run deep

[delhezi]

According to conventional wisdom. Channa bleheri are subtropical fish, needing waters of about 20-22 Celsius to display their best behaviours and colours. Whether or not this is a sensible transition to make for channas boiling in the LFS shop in SG; I don't know.

However there is at least one member who has managed to bring out the splendid colours of C. Bleheri by keeping the tank near the Aircon output (in his words). And there are several other members who have kept theirs at typical temperatures, though I doubt these thrive to the same degree of display and activity.

That aside, channa are aggressive. I have found one video where a solitary C.bleheri was kept with what seems to be a pair of paradise fishes, and several smaller lifebearers and the like in a planted set up. The aforementioned member Kai_has also managed to keep several species of channa with small shoaling fish. This is as far as I'm aware.

[Mir]

Thanks Bro,

My water stays around 24C at night, and never exceeds 27C during the day. So I guess temp wise, I should be ok. I read that Bleheris need a "winter hibernation" period where the temperatures are maintained at 18C for some time, but thats not feasible for me as I don't intend to install a chiller.

I can't seem to find any definitive info on tank mates. Most info online suggest Bleheris to be maintained in a species tank. But there are also individuals insisting that bleheri can be successfully maintained in a community tank with robust species of fish..

[delhezi]

You could possibly make the effort and throw some ice bottles in on occasion. Otherwise, as I have never kept channa bleheri, all I can do is to stick with my observations of community set ups. Quick, small fishes, which makes all that you have considered so far rather inapplicable. Not too sure about the chocolate gouramis though. Where did you get those by the way?

[limz_777]

channa are quite predatory , general rule of thumb is to make sure it doesnt fit into their mouth

[Mir]

Thanks for the advise guys.

After lots of deliberation, I decided against the channas, and will hold off till I get a bigger tank

Delhezi, the chocolates are available at most of the popular LFs in Singapore such as Seaview, Y618, C328. I've had some decent luck with them

[delhezi]

I believe channa are best kept species only; if you're willing to set aside some decent tank for a pair of them, you're likely to encounter the most favorable interactions.

Thanks for the tip, they're a little far though, so I'll try my luck in the east first.

[eeJamboy]

You could possibly make the effort and throw some ice bottles in on occasion. Otherwise, as I have never kept channa bleheri, all I can do is to stick with my observations of community set ups. Quick, small fishes, which makes all that you have considered so far rather inapplicable. Not too sure about the chocolate gouramis though. Where did you get those by the way?

Hi delhezi.. Have you personally tried the ice bottles method on any of your setups and how effective is that? How do you do that practically?

I have no chiller BUT wants to keep a bleheri so bad..

Sent electronically via mobile

[delhezi]

Hi delhezi.. Have you personally tried the ice bottles method on any of your setups and how effective is that? How do you do that practically?

I have no chiller BUT wants to keep a bleheri so bad..

Sent electronically via mobile

I have tried it briefly before but it was not done in a manner that was well thought out and therefore it required more work, as well as temperature fluctuation than it should have.

I would advise you if you are particularly keen on this species to look for the methods they use to cool newts and salamanders. Try to take a leaf from that book.

[eeJamboy]

Hmm.. Perhaps the best option here is to just get a chiller or settle for a tropical channa if it means more supervisory work to get just the temperature constant.

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[edric]

I used to have channa with SAPs, 4 sterbai Cory and 4 rainbow fish...

[Shi Xuan]

Hi,

IMO, it's not true that dwarf channa needs to be kept in such a low temperature. I kept them before and my room temperature hovers around 28-30C and still do quite well. I'm assuming you are not breeding them as that would require a temperature of 24-26C. They are beautiful but the biggest drawback is their ability to jump very well, so you really need to find a tight fitting lid for their tanks.

[tco]

Anyone successfully convert it diet to pellet or dried food?

[limz_777]

Anyone successfully convert it diet to pellet or dried food?

takes abit of coaxing