Snakehead pulchera

The pulchera snakehead, scientific name Channa pulchra, belongs to the family Channidae (Snakeheads). First described as a new species in 2007 by researcher R. Britz. Since the 2010s, it has become popular among aquarists.

Habitat

The fish is native to Southeast Asia. Inhabits the turbulent upper reaches of the Kyeintali Chaung River, which flows from the Chin Mountains into the Indian Ocean in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

Inhabits sections of rivers with a fast current. The water temperature is relatively low for the tropics and rarely rises above 23°C.

Description

Adult individuals reach a length of up to 30 cm. The fish has a typical body shape for Snakeheads – elongated with a large head and large fins. The dorsal and anal fins stretched over 2/3 of the body.

The second part of the name “pulcher” (pulcher) in Latin means “beautiful”, indicating the bright color of this species. The predominant body color is gray, but in young fish, the sides and fins have turquoise hues with a pattern of orange strokes and black dots. The pectoral fins are decorated with four semicircular white stripes.

As they grow older, the turquoise color on the body is lost, but remains on the anal fin. The white stripes on the pectoral fins become yellowish.

Behavior and Compatibility

Predatory territorial view. It is hostile to relatives and will prey on any other fish that can fit in its mouth. As neighbors in the aquarium, only large fish should be considered.

Some breeders, in particular the German expert Pascal Antler (Pascal Antler), contain in spacious tanks from 10 individuals. With so many in a limited space, they cannot create their own territory, which reduces the overall level of aggression.

It is worth noting that until the moment of puberty, while the Pulchera Snakehead is still small, the fish can be in the company of each other, and the juveniles even stray into flocks.

Brief information:

• The volume of the aquarium – from 250 liters.
• Water and air temperature – 18-23°C
• Value pH — 6.0–8.0
• Water hardness – 12–20 dGH
• Substrate type — stony
• Lighting – subdued
• Brackish water – no
• Water movement – moderate
• The size of the fish is up to 30 cm.
• Nutrition – live or fresh/frozen food
• Temperament – can be aggressive, quarrelsome
• Keeping alone or in a formed pair

Maintenance and care, arrangement of the aquarium

The minimum size of an aquarium for one fish starts from 250 liters. The design may resemble the bottom of a mountain river with many large stones, boulders, and snags.

It is recommended to recreate the flow with a separate pump or an internal performance filter.

Pulchera snakeheads, like other representatives of the genus Channa, are able to get out of the aquarium, so you need to take care of a cover or any other similar method of protection.

An air gap must be left between the lid and the surface of the water. Snakeheads breathe not only oxygen dissolved in water, but also atmospheric air.

Comfortable water parameters are considered to be pH values ​​close to neutral with medium or high GH. As noted above, the water temperature is relatively low, for this reason there is no need for a heater.

The content is relatively simple for experienced aquarists. Maintenance of an aquarium consists of a number of mandatory procedures, such as weekly replacement of part of the water with fresh water, removal of organic waste and maintenance of equipment.

Food

The basis of the diet in a home aquarium will be fresh or frozen foods in the form of pieces of fish meat, shrimp, mussels, earthworms, large bloodworms and other similar foods.

Sources: Wikipedia, FishBase, PracticalFishkeeping