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Snake Heads- A Fish Not To Be Over-Looked by Tom Williams
Snakeheads are an oxygen breathing fish of the genus Channa. The genus contains around 30 species and varies in size, temperament and aquarium suitability. They are fish native to Africa and Asia. Snakeheads are one of a few fish species that can breathe atmospheric oxygen through the presence of a lung like organ called the Labryinth Organ. This makes them a great candidate for escaping from any gaps or lids left open in the home aquarium.
There are many different sub-species of Snakehead available as pets for your aquarium. Many are suitable if kept in the correct conditions yet many will outgrow even the largest aquarium. One of the most popular Snakehead suitable for larger community aquariums is the Rainbow Snakehead Channa bleheri. Growing to around 20cm it is one of the smallest of the Channa species and will live happily in a larger, well maintained aquarium. As with all Snakeheads though, they are predatory and will attempt to eat any fish they deem a possible meal. Keep Snakeheads with other fish of similar size and temperament. One Snakehead often seen on sale in the UK is the Red Snakehead Channa micropeltes. This Snakehead really is the monster of Snakeheads growing to 100cm+. Many red snakeheads sold for a home aquariums may end up being rescued and homed at public aquariums.
Snakeheads also have a bad reputation for presenting an ecological concern through release into non-native waters. It has become more and more common to see Snakeheads in the waters of USA and there has been one sighting of a Snakehead that was caught on the Welland Canal in the UK. It is thought that Snakeheads were introduced to waters in the US as a source of food as they are highly regarded as a food source in the Far East.
Snakeheads that are kept in the home aquarium make great pets and should be fed on a carnivorous diet of floating food sticks and frozen foods. Due to their carnivorous nature they are messy eaters and require regular tank maintenance to keep the aquarium water free from harmful ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
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