Snakehead fish Channa cyanospilos - Characteristics, how to raise fish to have beautiful colors

Channa cyanospilos (Bluespotted Snakehead), a native fish of Sumatra, Indonesia, has striking blue spots on its body that are very eye-catching.

Channa cyanospilos (Bluespotted Snakehead), a snakehead species native to Indonesia, often lives in "black water" tropical environments. With its striking appearance with characteristic blue spots on its body, it has become a popular ornamental snakehead fish worldwide.

If you want to learn more about this special green spotted snakehead fish, please refer to the content in the article below of ornamental snakehead fish !

Information about snakehead fish Channa cyanospilos :

Origin of snakehead fish Channa cyanospilos

Channa cyanospilos is a fish native to Indonesia.

Channa cyanospilos, also known as Blue-spotted Snakehead, is a native fish species originating from Sumatra Island, Indonesia. Some other documents also record the appearance of this fish species in Java, Borneo, where the environment is similar but there has been no authentic research.

In nature, they often live in freshwater ponds, canals where the water flows slowly, the bottom is muddy, covered with a layer of rotten leaves, submerged tree roots, little light, a lot of shade like "black water".

Currently, thanks to its impressive and eye-catching appearance, the green spotted snakehead fish has been exploited to serve the ornamental fish market in East Asia and Europe.

The name "cyanospilos" is a combination of two words "Cyano = blue" and "spilos = spotted", meaning snakehead fish with blue spots.

Appearance of snakehead fish Channa cyanospilos

Blue-spotted Snakehead fish with prominent blue spots on its body.

The point that helps Blue-spotted Snakehead fish attract many aquarium hobbyists is its unique appearance with colorful colors and patterns, blending wild beauty with rarity. Specifically as follows:

• Size : Maximum 35 - 40 cm in nature, in aquarium usually only 25 - 30 cm.
• Shape : Elongated, torpedo-shaped. Large head, body tapering towards the tail, strong body.
• Color : The body of the fish is grayish brown to dark gray in adults, the juvenile fish is brighter in color, with prominent blue-green round spots on the body, this is a special feature of this fish species.
• Dorsal and anal fins : Extend from mid-body to near tail, gray or black, with pale blue or white edges.
• Caudal fin : Rounded, often with blue dots or sunken patterns
• Pectoral fins : Round, small, slightly transparent.
• Head : Large, slightly protruding lower jaw, many sharp teeth.
• Eyes : Round, slightly convex, black with copper or pale yellow rim.
• Baby fish under 10 cm : light body color, no clear spots
• Adult fish over 20 cm : Blue spots are clearer and sharper.

Snakehead fish Channa cyanospilos behavior

Green spotted snakehead fish can be kept in pairs.

Channa cyanospilos is one of the most aggressive, territorial and interesting predatory fish. If you want to take good care of this fish, learning about its habits and typical behaviors is indispensable.

Aggressive & extremely territorial

The Blue Spotted Snakehead is a very territorial fish, especially when the fish are over 20 cm in length. They always occupy a certain area in the tank where there are many caves, rocks, driftwood, aquatic plants and protect it fiercely. If any fish invades, they are ready to chase and even bite hard to threaten.

This aggression increases during breeding season or when living alone for too long.

Inconsistent temperament

There will be many individuals who are calm, less agitated, and communicative, but some others are very aggressive and aggressive. They also have the ability to recognize the person feeding them and react when that person approaches the tank.

Able to communicate using fins and body color

When competing for territory, Channa cyanospilos often spread their fins, erect their gills, and open their mouths very wide to "show off". In some cases of mild conflict, the fish will often not attack immediately but will "show off their form" first.

Likes shade and quiet environment

Blue-spotted Snakeheads prefer to live in still, slow-moving water, and like to hide under driftwood, dry leaves, or in dark corners. They do not like environments with too much light or noise, which can cause them to feel stressed and seek to hide, or even stop eating.

Reproduction by mouth incubation

Unlike many other snakehead fish, Channa cyanospilos reproduces by laying eggs and incubating them in its mouth - mouthbrooding. The female fish lays the eggs, the male fish will hold the eggs in its mouth for 10 - 15 days until the eggs hatch into swimming fry.

However, currently, forcing fish to reproduce in captivity has not been widely recorded because it is very difficult and requires a lot of experience.

Instructions for raising snakehead fish Channa cyanospilos to have beautiful colors

A green spotted snakehead fish is swimming in a tank with many aquatic plants.

Below, we will give detailed instructions on how to raise Bluespotted Snakehead fish, including tank preparation, water quality, food, and disease prevention. Let's find out now!

Prepare suitable pond

If you want your fish to grow well, live long, and have beautiful colors, you need to prepare a suitable pond or tank that has many similarities to the natural environment in Sumatra - Indonesia, specifically as follows:

• Size : 100 x 45 x 45 cm, about 150 liters for 1 adult fish, if raised in pairs, a volume of 180 liters or more is needed.
• Tank lid : A tight lid is needed because snakehead fish often jump high out of the water when frightened.
• Aquarium decoration : Should decorate with lots of driftwood, rocks, caves, dry almond leaves to create a natural environment, the substrate should use fine sand.
• LED lights : Use lights with warm yellow light or lights specifically for blackwater.
• Filter system : Use a light, slow-flow filter.
• Aeration : Use a low-power aerator to create a quality water environment.

Optimal water conditions

The next important thing is that you need to provide a water environment with optimal parameters, suitable for Channa cyanospilos fish. Note the following basic parameters:

• Temperature : 25 - 30 degrees C
• pH : 5.5 - 6.8
• Hardness : 2 - 10 dGH
• Nitrate : Below 30 ppm
• Water change : 20 - 30% water per week.

Suitable diet for Channa cyanospilos

Because green spotted snakehead fish are carnivores, when raising them in a tank you should feed them the following foods:

• Live shrimp, small bait fish, bloodworms, earthworms, chopped live shrimp.
• Frozen food
• Pellets for predatory fish

Feeding frequency:

• Baby fish : Feed 1 - 2 times per day
• Adult fish : Eat 3 - 4 times / week

What fish should Channa cyanospilos be kept with?

Because the green spotted snakehead fish has a fierce temperament and strong territoriality, it is best to keep only one individual. Only keep a male and female pair when they have been introduced to each other from a young age, and you need to observe carefully when you first release them. If you see the fish biting or chasing each other, you must separate them immediately.

If you want to raise other fish in the tank, you need to choose large, non-territorial fish such as glass fish or catfish. Avoid raising them with small, docile fish such as guppies, neons, and angelfish to avoid being eaten!

Care and disease prevention for Channa cyanospilos fish

Caring for and preventing diseases for Blue-spotted Snakehead fish is very important, helping them stay healthy and develop at their best. Here are some common diseases in this fish species and how to treat them, please join us to learn more.

Channa cyanospilos fish price

Currently, the green spotted snakehead fish is not popular in the Vietnamese ornamental fish market, so its price is not widely announced. However, based on the price of some other ornamental snakehead fish species, it is predicted that the price of Channa cyanospilos will range from 500,000 - 900,000 VND for a fish measuring 10 - 20 cm. Mature fish with more beautiful colors will often cost more, up to several million VND.

Thus, through the article on snakehead.info, we have shared with you some information about the snakehead fish Channa cyanospilos , a native snakehead fish of Indonesia with an impressive appearance with eye-catching blue spots, a fierce and very strong temperament, sought after by aquarium enthusiasts everywhere. If you want to own a large, slightly wild but equally beautiful snakehead fish, the Blue-spotted Snakehead is a perfect choice.

If you want to know more about the rich world of ornamental snakehead fish, visit our Blog section now!