Channa Andrao Snakehead Fish - Beautiful Bluefin Rainbow Snakehead Fish

Channa Andrao Snakehead Fish (Bluefin Rainbow Snakehead Fish), a miniature ornamental snakehead fish with a brilliant appearance and eye-catching blue fins, easy to adapt and care for.

Channa Andrao Snakehead Fish, also known as the bluefin rainbow snakehead, is a species of fish belonging to the Channa genus (snakehead fish), with extremely colorful colors and strange blue fins. They are currently one of the beautiful, valuable ornamental fish and are sought after by many ornamental fish lovers.

In today's article, let's learn more about bluefin rainbow snakehead fish to understand their origin, appearance, and how to raise and care for them from A to Z!

Origin of Channa Andrao Snakehead Fish (Bluefin Rainbow Snakehead Fish)

Channa Andrao Snakehead Fish or Bluefin Rainbow Snakehead Fish.

Channa Andrao (Bluefin Rainbow Snakehead) was first discovered in 2013 in the eastern Himalayas and Lefraguri swamps of West Bengal, India. They are widely distributed in the Brahmaputra river basin in northeastern India, and the swamps near the town of Barobisha.

Nowadays, due to over-exploitation and shrinking habitat, the number of this fish species in the wild has decreased significantly. However, fortunately, due to breeding and farming in the aquarium industry, this fish species is still maintained and developed well.

Characteristics of the Bluefin Rainbow Snakehead Fish - Channa Andrao

The brilliant appearance and super beautiful blue fins of the Andrao snakehead fish.

Channa Andrao fish have a very eye-catching appearance and are easily recognizable by their beautiful blue fins. Let's learn more about the physical characteristics of this fish breed!

• Size : Average length is 10 - 11cm, maximum about 18 - 20cm if there is a suitable environment
• Body : Long, slender, soft body with shiny scales.
• Color : The body has a light green background, combined with light blue or silver scales that sparkle like leopard skin or a rainbow.
• Scales : Regular shape, shiny, when reflecting light, they create beautiful, sparkling patterns.
• Dorsal fin : Blue or dark green in color, with distinct rays, extending from head to near tail.
• Pectoral and ventral fins : Also have the same color as the dorsal fin, sharp, helping the fish move flexibly.
• Caudal fin : Long, slightly forked, bright blue.
• Head : Quite large, mouth slightly low, wide, with sharp teeth.

Behavior of snakehead fish Channa Andrao

Different views of an Andrao snakehead fish.

In general, the bluefin rainbow snakehead has the same habits as other snakehead fish in the Chana family, which are high aggression, hunting habits and preferring to live alone. Let's learn more about the habits of this fish species.

Strongly territorial

Bluefin rainbow snakehead fish are very territorial, they always show aggression to protect their territory from other fish and are ready to attack back if they feel violated or threatened, especially with smaller fish.

Is a carnivorous fish, has good hunting ability

Channa Andrao is a carnivorous fish with a clear hunting instinct. They do not hunt by searching but just lie still waiting for prey to swim into their reach and then attack in a flash. They usually hunt prey such as shrimp, prawns, small fish, and aquatic creatures.

Like to live alone

The Bluefin Rainbow Snakehead prefers to live alone and does not like to mingle with other fish in the tank. If it is kept with several other fish and the tank is cramped, it can easily become stressed and exhibit aggressive behavior.

Like to live in dense forest

In nature, bluefin rainbow snakehead fish prefer to live in shallow water with lots of aquatic plants to easily hide and hunt. Therefore, when raising fish in the pond, you need to create a dense ecosystem with many hiding places so that they feel safer and more adaptable.

Able to breathe and move on land

Because Channa Andrao can breathe through gills and lungs, they can survive in low oxygen conditions and even on land. This fish has been recorded to be able to cut and survive for up to 4 days on land and cut on wet land for distances of up to 400m, for this reason it is also called the walking fish.

Reproductive behavior of Andrao snakehead fish

Like many other snakehead species, the bluefin rainbow snakehead also spawns during the rainy season with a unique bubble nest spawning method as follows.

• Male fish create bubble nests of air bubbles floating on the water surface, then they will attract females and mate.
• The female fish lays eggs, then the male fish will fertilize them and take care of the nest from other fish.
• After the female fish hatch, the male fish continues to protect the young until they can find food for themselves.

Detailed instructions for raising bluefin rainbow snakehead fish - Channa Andrao

The bluefin rainbow snakehead has the most vibrant colors if kept in the right conditions.

Channa Andrao is a miniature ornamental snakehead fish, so it does not require too much care, tank design or food. However, to be able to raise this fish healthy and well-developed, you need to note the following things.

Ideal tank design for Channa Andrao fish

Because the bluefin rainbow snakehead fish is quite small, averaging 10 - 11 cm, you do not need to prepare a large aquarium. The appropriate tank size is as follows:

• Tank volume : minimum 60 L for raising a pair of fish with dimensions of 80 x 30 x 40 cm (Length x width x height). For raising many fish, the minimum tank length is 100 cm or more.
• Filtration & aeration system : Use foam filter or bio filter with low flow, may not need oxygen aeration.
• Tank substrate : Choose a natural sand substrate with dark tones to help the fish look better.
• Decorate the tank : Create shelters and hiding places for fish using driftwood and rock caves, and plant more aquatic plants such as Java fern, Anubias, mini moss,
• Light : Moderate light, not too harsh, 6 - 8 hours of light per day.
• Cover : The tank needs a cover because fish love to jump high out of the water.

Suitable water parameters for raising bluefin rainbow snakehead fish

Water quality is the most important factor to ensure that the fish can grow well and have beautiful colors. And here are some suitable water parameters for raising Channa Andrao fish, please take note.

If you want to keep your water parameters stable, here are some suggestions:

• Use a thermometer to measure temperature.
• If your tap water has a pH > 7.5, you can filter it through dried almond leaves, peat moss,...
• Do not decorate the tank with limestone because it can easily increase hardness and pH.

What do Andrao snakehead fish eat?

Bluefin rainbow snakehead fish is a carnivorous fish so you need to ensure a protein-rich food source, suggestions are as follows:

• Live food (best) : Shrimp, small shrimp, bloodworms, earthworms, bait fish, crickets, rice worms, small insects, mosquito larvae,...
• Pelleted food : You need to get used to it from a young age because they are a species that likes to eat fresh meat, and can eat some forbidden foods that smell like shrimp, fish, etc.
• Feeding frequency : Feed young fish twice a day, adult fish 1-2 times a day, give just enough food.

Care and disease prevention for bluefin rainbow snakehead fish

Channa Andrao fish have good adaptability and live longer than many other ornamental fish species, but they are still susceptible to some diseases caused by parasites, unsafe water sources, etc. Let's learn about some common diseases in this fish species to know how to prevent and treat them.

To help keep your fish healthy, keep the following in mind:

• Keep the water environment stable.
• Quarantine newly purchased fish for 10 - 14 days before releasing them into the main tank.
• Deworming every 2-3 months.
• Use almond leaves, moss, and natural driftwood to help with mild antibacterial properties in the tank.

How to tame Channa Andrao snakehead fish when you first buy it

Releasing the newly purchased bluefin rainbow snakehead fish into the tank is also a very important step. If you do not go through the steps of handling and getting used to the environment before releasing the fish into the tank, your fish will definitely be stressed, shocked by the water and even die. Please follow the instructions below to help the fish adapt well to the new environment.

• Step 1 : Let the tank run for at least 2 weeks before releasing fish into the tank. Check the water parameters to see if they are satisfactory, if not, they need to be treated promptly.
• Step 2 : Let the bag containing Channa Andrao fish float on the water surface for 15 - 20 minutes to help balance the temperature.
• Step 3 : Every 5 minutes, add water from the tank to the fish bag, about 20% of the water in the bag, repeat 4-5 times.
• Step 4 : Use a net to gently scoop the fish into the tank, turn off the lights for 1-2 hours to let the fish adapt.
• Step 5 : After releasing the fish into the tank, observe the fish's behavior to see if there is anything unusual to handle promptly. Wait about 6 - 12 hours before feeding the fish for the first time.

How much does Channa Andrao fish cost?

Currently, the price of Andrao rainbow snakehead fish in Vietnam fluctuates significantly, depending on the size, origin and store. If you want to own one of these fish, please refer to the prices we have compiled below:

• Baby Andrao snakehead fish (about 3 - 6cm) : From 75,000 - 100,000 VND/fish
• Andrao snakehead fish max size : Can cost up to 400,000 VND/fish with beautiful, eye-catching appearance.

Image of Channa Andrao fish - Beautiful bluefin rainbow snakehead fish

We invite you to admire the brilliant beauty of the bluefin rainbow snakehead fish through the moments we share below to know why this fish species is so loved by many aquarium hobbyists.

Super beautiful image of an Andrao snakehead fish.

An adult bluefin rainbow snakehead.

Image of snakehead fish Channa Andrao swimming among aquatic plants.

Through the above article, snakehead.info has shared full information about Channa Andrao fish - Bluefin rainbow snakehead fish. This is not only a fish with beautiful appearance but also has unique habits, high adaptability, and reasonable price, suitable for even those who raise fish with little experience.

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