Small snakehead
Channa asiatica
Parameter dashboard
15-25 °C
6-8
35 cm
15 years
Care guide
The Chinese snakehead, also known as the small snakehead, is a medium-sized predatory fish from southern China, Hainan Island, and northern Vietnam. It displays a variable colour pattern of dark brown to grey with numerous pale spots on the head and body, and a distinctive ocellus (eye-like spot) on the caudal peduncle. Adults reach 25-35 cm (10-14 inches) in standard length, making it one of the more manageable snakehead species for the dedicated aquarist.
Maintain a seasonal temperature cycle with a cooler winter period. A single adult requires an aquarium of at least 160 litres with a tightly-fitting, heavy lid (snakeheads are obligate air-breathers and accomplished escape artists). The aquarium should be dimly lit with plenty of cover from driftwood, terracotta pipes, dense planting, and floating vegetation. Diet is exclusively meaty: earthworms, shrimp, prawns, mussels, and pieces of whole fish — this species will not eat any kind of dried food, which is an important consideration for planning feeding.
Water parameters: 15-25°C, pH 6.0-8.0, with moderate to hard water. The species is an aggressive, territorial predator best kept singly or as a bonded pair. If a pair forms, they will breed annually, laying floating eggs that hatch in 24-36 hours, with both parents guarding the free-swimming fry. Fry are highly cannibalistic and must be sorted by size weekly. The Chinese snakehead is strictly for experienced keepers who can provide the cool winter rest period, secure housing, and specialised meaty diet this remarkable species requires.
Sources
- seriouslyfish.com — https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/channa-asiatica/
- fishbase.de — https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Channa-asiatica.html
Further reading on identification and aquarium care.
Tankmate compatibility (sample)
Pairwise screening against other species in the database (prioritizing the same family when data is available).
Review first (6)
Caution or avoid from automated rules — confirm before mixing.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Assamese snakehead Channa stewartii Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Bluefinned snakehead Channa bleheri Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Colored snakehead Channa pulchra Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Goldspotted snakehead Channa aurantimaculata Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Indonesian snakehead Channa micropeltes Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Walking snakehead Channa orientalis Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
Same rule engine as Compare. Not a substitute for observation, tank size, or acclimation.
Related species
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