Walking snakehead
Channa orientalis
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A snakehead endemic to southwestern Sri Lanka, from shaded forest streams — records from other countries were of other species. Up to 10 centimetres, it is one of the smallest in the genus and lacks pelvic fins. The male mouthbroods the eggs. It is vulnerable.
- Scientific name
- Channa orientalis
- Family
- Channidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Channidae
- Order
- Anabantiformes
- Synonyms
- Channa burmanica, Channa gachua, Channa gahua, Ophiocephalus apus, Ophiocephalus aurantiacus, Ophiocephalus coramota, Ophiocephalus fusca, Ophiocephalus gachua kelaarti, Ophiocephalus gachua malaccensis, Ophiocephalus harcourtbutleri, Ophiocephalus kelaarti, Ophiocephalus kelaartii, Ophiocephalus limbatus, Ophiocephalus marginatus, Ophiocephalus montanus
Origin
- Native region
- Ásia
Water
- Temperature
- 16–24 °C
- pH
- 5–7.5
- General hardness (GH)
- 1–10 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank (volume)
- 81 L
- Minimum tank (length)
- 90 cm
Behavior
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social life
- Pair
- Swimming level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
Care
- Care difficulty
- Moderate
Reproduction
- Breeding strategy
- Mouthbrooder
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Vulnerable (VU)
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