Leopard Fireworks Snakehead - A Species of Brightly Colored Ornamental Snakehead Fish

The leopard firecracker snakehead (Channa ornatipinnis), a carnivorous freshwater fish from Myanmar, has a brilliant, iridescent appearance like fireworks. It has a fierce, independent hunting habit.

The leopard firecracker snakehead (Channa ornatipinnis) is a species of ornamental snakehead fish originating from Myanmar, currently very famous in the ornamental fish world and loved by many people, because it not only possesses a beautiful, colorful appearance but also has an extremely strong, wild temperament.

If you do not understand this fish species clearly, please refer to the information shared by ornamental snakehead fish in the article below to learn about the characteristics, habits and how to care for leopard firework snakehead fish!

Origin of leopard firework snakehead fish

The leopard firecracker snakehead fish is native to Myanmar.

The leopard firecracker snakehead fish has the scientific name Channa ornatipinnis, it was recognized by the scientific community in 2008 by a famous fish researcher named Ralf Britz.

This is a native fish species of Myanmar, especially the northwestern region of Myanmar near the Indian border. They prefer to live in streams, small rivers or forest swamps with many trees.

Before being recognized as a separate species, the Leopard Firecracker Snakehead was often confused with the Yellow Spotted Firecracker Snakehead and the Rainbow Snakehead because of their similar bright colors.

Nowadays, thanks to its impressive beauty, this fish has become famous among ornamental fish in Asian and European countries.

Physical characteristics of leopard firecracker snakehead fish

Close-up of the brilliant appearance of a leopard firework snakehead fish.

The leopard firework snakehead fish is known as one of the most beautiful and colorful ornamental snakehead fish. Let's learn more about the appearance of this fish.

• Size : Average length about 30 - 35 cm.
• Shape : Long, slender body, slightly flattened on both sides, with large fins.
• Body color : Mainly blue-gray, light green with stripes of octopus, orange or brown forming a characteristic pattern. There are also many black spots creating a "leopard skin" effect.
• Dorsal fin : Extends from head to near tail, has alternating black spots, usually dark blue-gray in color.
• Anal fin : Smaller than dorsal fin, has eye-catching dark blue color.
• Caudal fin : Has alternating gray and blue colors that create a sparkling effect when swimming.
• Pectoral fins : Quite large, black in color, with white spots evenly spaced, extremely impressive.
• Head : Large, slightly square, small eyes, close to the mouth, wide mouth, sharp teeth, head is blue-gray combined with black spots.
• Color-changing ability : The leopard firecracker snakehead fish has the ability to change its body color according to its surroundings or emotions.

Leopard Fireworks Snakehead Fish Behavior

The leopard firecracker snakehead fish prefers to live alone.

Let's learn more about the habits of the leopard firecracker snakehead fish to see if it has any special temperament or habits compared to other ornamental snakehead fish!

Is a carnivore fish.

Channa ornatipinnis is a carnivorous fish, its prey usually consists of small fish, shrimp, insects and even crustaceans in the water. They hunt by ambush and wait for prey to swim by then suddenly pounce on the prey with their sharp teeth.

Like to live alone

Leopard firecracker snakeheads prefer to live alone rather than in groups, especially when they are adults. They always carefully protect their territory and do not want to be watched by any other fish. If any fish dares to invade, they will immediately show an aggressive attitude and use their sharp fins to attack the enemy.

High alertness

Channa ornatipinnis is a highly alert fish, they will always pay attention to every move in the surrounding environment and are very difficult to catch. When they feel danger, they will immediately seek shelter or use their camouflage to hide.

Seasonal reproductive behavior

Like many other snakehead fish, Channa ornatipinnis naturally reproduces during the rainy season when fresh water is abundant and food is more plentiful. This fish will build a nest in soft or muddy areas, then the female will lay eggs in the nest, the male will guard and protect the nest from enemies. After the eggs hatch, the parents will take them to a safer place to live and develop.

Instructions for raising leopard firework snakehead fish with max size and beautiful color

A leopard firecracker snakehead fish is swimming close to the bottom of the tank.

Not everyone knows how to raise leopard firecracker snakehead fish to grow well and have beautiful colors. To do this, you need to pay attention to some techniques and water quality. Let's learn more in the instructions below.

What do leopard firecracker snakehead fish eat?

Channa ornatipinnis is a carnivorous fish so suitable food for them includes some of the following:

• Live food : Small fish, shrimp, prawns, worms, insects, larvae or even fresh meat.
• Pellet food : You can train them to eat pellet food specifically for snakehead fish rich in vitamins and protein.

Aquarium design suitable for raising leopard firecracker snakehead fish

To design a tank to raise leopard firecracker snakehead fish, you need to ensure both a spacious space and a natural environment simulation so that the fish can grow in the best way. Please note the following parameters!

• Tank size : The tank should have a minimum volume of 100L or more, ideally 120 - 150L with dimensions of 90 x 45 x 45 cm (Length x width x height).
• Filtration system : This fish needs clean and stable water so you need to equip a good filtration system, you can refer to the external filter type.
• Aeration system : Although this fish can breathe through its gills, you still need an aeration system to keep the oxygen level in the tank adequate.
• Tank bottom : Use fine sand, small rocks or thin mud to simulate natural habitat.
• Vegetation : A variety of aquatic plants should be planted to help create hiding spaces for fish and also improve the water quality of the tank.
• Lighting : Use low wattage LED lights as this fish prefers low light conditions.

Suitable water parameters for raising leopard firecracker snakehead fish

Channa ornatipinnis is a beautiful colored ornamental fish, however, to help this fish grow well and have beautiful colors, you need to maintain the following ideal water parameters:

• Temperature : 24 - 28 degrees Celsius.
• pH : 6.0 - 7.0
• Hardness (GH) : 4 - 12 dGH
• TDS : 100 - 200 ppm (Soft or neutral water).
• Dissolved oxygen : > 3mg/L.
• Ammonium/Nitrite : 0 ppm (These are toxic to fish).

Common diseases in Channa ornatipinnis fish and how to treat them

Leopard firecracker snakehead fish are susceptible to some dangerous diseases caused by parasites and water quality in the tank. Here are some common diseases in this fish species. Let's learn together to understand the causes, symptoms and proper treatment to help your fish stay healthy.

How much is the leopard skin firework snakehead fish?

Currently, in the Vietnamese ornamental fish market, the leopard firework snakehead fish is very popular because of its beautiful and impressive appearance. Therefore, the price of this fish is quite high and depends a lot on the size and origin, usually ranging from 1.6 million VND for one fish with an average size of 16 - 18 cm.

However, prices will vary depending on the time and store, so if you really want to buy Channa ornatipinnis, please refer to the exact price from reputable aquarium stores.

Beautiful leopard firework snakehead fish image

Let's admire some of the most beautiful pictures of the leopard firework snakehead fish to see the brilliant and shiny beauty of this fish in every corner of the tank!

Leopard firework snakehead fish with colorful body.

Channa ornatipinnis fish swimming gracefully in the tank.

A max size leopard firework snakehead fish with super beautiful colors.

Through the article that snakehead.info shares above, we can see that the leopard firecracker snakehead fish - Channa ornatipinnis is not only a beautiful ornamental fish but also has unique habits. If you want to raise a fish that is beautiful, strong and interesting, this fish is not a bad choice.

Goodbye and see you soon in other articles of the Blog section to learn more about beautiful ornamental snakehead fish!