Bullseye snakehead (Channa marulius) 30cm+

This snakehead is native to most of Southeast Asia.

Recommended for very experienced hobbyists only, due to its size and aggression, despite it's undoubted beauty!

Colouring

Easily identified by the black spot surrounded by a red or orange circle on the tail resembling a "Bullseye". This snakehead usually displays dark brown to olive body patterning, with a brown underside and often has dark / white blotches along the body. Juveniles have a blueish body with a white underbelly and are very active swimmers. Adults can display colours of blue, green or oranges during breeding season to attract mates.

Care level

• Care level: moderate

• Size: up to 180cm 

• Lifespan 10-15 years

• Tank Size: 88 Gal (400 Ltr) min for juveniles for adults much larger aquariums are needed with strong filtration

• Temperament: Aggressive

• PH: 6 – 8

• Water hardness: 36-357 ppm

• Temperature: 22-28°C (72-82°F)

• Flow: Moderate

They possess a respiratory organ requiring them to surface for air.

Because of this we suggest leaving a good size gap from the surface of the water to the top of the tank to allow comfortable surfacing.

They benefit from floating plants to help mimic their native surroundings of backwaters, weedy swamps and marshes with dense vegetation, but they can also be found in lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams.

As prolific jumpers a tight fitting lid is needed to prevent them leaping out of their tank!

They are able to survive out of water for some time due to their oxygen breathing ability

Feeding habits

In the wild they are opportunistic predators and will eat a wide range of foods such as live fish, amphibians, insects, crustaceans and worms. In captivity they can be fed on feeder fish, frogs, earthworms, crickets and other high protein pellets. They readily accept frozen food such as bloodworm cockles and mussels in shells

Breeding

Like most other snakeheads, they make a nest from vegetation and they wrap similarly to betta splendens, with both male and female fanning the eggs when released.

Hatching occurs 24 - 48hrs later depending on water temperature.

Both parents will take it in turns to guard the fry until ready to fend for themselves