Ninh Binh Bluefin Snakehead Fish - Beautiful ornamental snakehead fish of Vietnam

Ninh Binh Bluefin Snakehead Fish, a special ornamental snakehead fish from Vietnam, has impressive and beautiful colors, is highly territorial but adaptable and easy to raise.

Ninh Binh Bluefin Snakehead , an endemic snakehead species originating from Ninh Binh province, Vietnam. Possessing an impressive appearance with eye-catching metallic blue-rimmed fins, it is a prominent ornamental fish in the snakehead family and receives the attention of many aquarists.

If you want to learn more about the origin, habits, and care of Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish, please refer to the content that ornamental snakehead fish shares in the article below!

Origin of Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish

Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish originates from Vietnam.

Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish is a native fish species of Vietnam, originating from rocky streams and freshwater streams in the limestone mountains of Ninh Binh province.

Although they have appeared for a long time, they only received attention from the Vietnamese aquarium community around 2021 - 2022. There is still no official scientific publication, but in the aquatic world, it has a separate name to distinguish it from many other types of ornamental snakehead fish.

Currently, due to the narrowing of the living environment, the source of Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish in the wild is increasingly scarce. However, some aquarium hobbyists have successfully bred them in an artificial environment, ensuring the supply for the Vietnamese aquarium market.

Appearance of Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish

Impressive appearance with colorful fins of Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish.

Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish has a strong appearance and eye-catching colors, so it attracts a lot of attention from aquarium enthusiasts in Vietnam. Here are the specific characteristics of this fish species' appearance, let's find out now!

• Size : Average 12 - 18 cm in adult fish.
• Shape : Long body, slightly flat, large head.
• Color : The whole body is gray or dark gray, the dorsal and anal fins have a very prominent metallic blue border, especially the darkest color during the breeding season.
• Mouth : Wide, sharp teeth.
• Caudal fin : Round, similar in color to the ventral and dorsal fins.
• Pectoral fins: Large, clear grey.
• Eyes : Big, round, close to the mouth, with red or orange rims, looking quite fierce.

Habits and behavior of Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish

A school of young Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish.

Right below are the special habits and behaviors of Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish. Please refer to them to better understand this special ornamental snakehead fish.

Solitary, highly territorial

Unlike many other dwarf snakehead fish, Ninh Binh bluefin rainbow snakehead fish prefers to live alone, never swims in schools and only pairs up during breeding season.

They are also highly territorial, when they come to a new habitat, they will choose a fixed area with lots of rocks and aquatic plants as their shelter and territory and at the same time try to protect it from other fish species.

Good at camouflage and ambush

Thanks to the color of its body matching the background of rocks, moss and mud, Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish are very good at camouflage. They can lie still and hide for hours just to hide from enemies or wait for prey to enter their sight within a range of less than 30 cm and then suddenly attack.

Thanks to this habit, they can grow and develop very well in flooded limestone caves in Ninh Binh.

Have protective behavior for young

Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish reproduce by nest building and protecting their young, specifically as follows:

• Reproduction usually takes place during the rainy season from May to August in the North of our country.
• Fish will nest and lay eggs in caves, aquatic bushes or soft, smooth mud.
• After the female fish lays eggs, the male fish takes on the task of guarding the nest, protecting the eggs from other fish.
• After the eggs hatch into baby fish, they will swim with their parents until they learn to defend themselves and then separate from the school to live independently.

Good maneuverability

Thanks to its compact size and unique habitat, this snakehead fish can swim and weave well between rocks, tree roots or water caves. Normally, they do not like to migrate far, only staying in a certain area.

Instructions for raising and domesticating Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish from A to Z

Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish tank with dark background, soft light.

Below is the most detailed guide on how to raise Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish for those who want to try their hand at this special ornamental fish. Let's learn now to successfully raise a healthy fish, adapt well and have the most beautiful color.

Prepare suitable rearing environment

In order for Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish to adapt and develop optimally in captivity, you need to prepare a suitable breeding environment that has many similarities with the natural living conditions of this fish species, specifically as follows:

Type of farming :

• Cement lake
• Glass tank
• Small earthen pond
• Aquarium
• The best volume is 1000 liters or more for a pair of adult fish.

Layout in the tank :

• Create many shelters by using stacked rocks, artificial caves, driftwood, native aquatic plants such as seaweed, duckweed,...
• The tank floor uses gravel, fine sand or a layer of fine mud from 3 - 4 cm.
• The light in the tank should be gentle, avoid harsh light shining directly into the tank.

Equipment needed in the tank :

• Water filtration system
• Aerator

Ideal water parameters :

• Temperature : 24 - 30 degrees C
• pH : 6.5 - 7.5
• Hardness : Low from 4 - 10 GH
• Dissolved oxygen : High above 5 mg/L

Suitable diet for Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish

In addition to establishing an optimal living environment, you need to provide a reasonable, balanced, and nutritious diet for bluefin rainbow snakehead fish so that they can grow best. You can refer to the following foods:

• Live food: Small fish, shrimp, prawns, crickets, rice worms, earthworms,...
• Processed food: Chopped fish, frozen food, protein-rich pellets.

Note :

• Do not eat red meat such as pork or beef because it can cause digestive disorders in fish.
• Appropriate diet for the age of the fish.
• Fish should only be fed when it is cool, not at noon.

Bluefin snakehead fish

As shared in the behavior section, Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish are highly territorial, so it is best to keep them alone, only in pairs when they have been paired before. However, if the fish are young, they can be kept in a small group if the tank is large enough and has many hiding places.

Absolutely avoid keeping it with small ornamental fish such as guppies, guppy, neon,... to avoid becoming a "meal" for your snakehead fish.

Prevention and treatment of diseases for Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish

Right below is the most detailed guide for health care, disease prevention and treatment for Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish. Please refer to it for the best experience in raising healthy fish.

Basic principles of disease prevention :

• Ensure clean, stable water source, maintain optimal parameters.
• The aquarium should provide swimming space and plenty of hiding places.
• Quarantine newly purchased fish for 10 - 14 days to avoid cross contamination.
• Do not overfeed to avoid polluting water sources.
• Observe fish daily for unusual behavior.
• Change 20 - 30% of the water in the tank every week.
• Supplement garlic and digestive enzymes periodically
• When fish show unusual signs, they need to be isolated for monitoring and to avoid cross-infection in the pond.

Common diseases and treatments:

Some medications to have on hand :

• Potassium permanganate KMNO4 : Disinfects water
• Erythromycin / Tetra : Mild antibiotic for inflammation and fin rot
• Praziquantel : Drug to treat parasites such as skin flukes and gill flukes
• Live microorganisms : help stabilize the microflora in the tank
• Clean NaCl salt : Increases electrolytes, disinfects, and bathes fish.

How much is Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish?

Currently, Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish has become a favorite ornamental fish in Vietnam because of its beautiful appearance and quite affordable price, depending on size, origin, and supplier. You can refer to the following price list for more information.

Image of Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish

Right below, we have shared many pictures of Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish, let's admire to understand why this fish species is loved by so many people!

Image of a pair of Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish.

Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish shows off its brilliant beauty in the fish trap.

Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish stands out among aquatic plants.

Through the above article, snakehead.info has shared full information about Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish . Hopefully you have understood and grasped how to raise and care for this special ornamental snakehead fish originating from Vietnam. If you want your aquarium to become more lively but still save costs, Ninh Binh bluefin snakehead fish is the perfect choice!

Don't forget to read other articles in our Blog section to learn more about many other beautiful and special species of ornamental snakehead fish.