South American Bulleye Snakehead Fish - Origin, Habits and Care

The South American bulleye snakehead (Channa pleurophthalma), a highly territorial, aggressive predatory fish, has an impressive appearance with its characteristic "bull's eyes".

The South American bull-eye snakehead (Channa pleurophthalma) is a predatory snakehead fish native to Southeast Asia. It has a striking appearance with orange and yellow stripes on its body and is aggressive in temperament and has good hunting ability, making it popular among Vietnamese aquarium fish.

To learn more about the origin, appearance, habits and how to raise South American bull-eyed snakehead fish, please follow the article below of ornamental snakehead fish !

Where does South American bulleye snakehead fish come from?

The South American bulleye snakehead fish is native to Southeast Asia.

The South American bull-eyed snakehead fish, scientifically known as Channa pleurophthalma, is native to Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. This fish species prefers to live in freshwater areas such as rivers, lakes, and swamps, where the water flows slowly.

The origin of the name “South American Bulleye Snakehead” is not because it originated from South America but because it has a similar shape to the South American Bulleye. The “bulleye” comes from the fact that they have fake eye spots on their body.

Nowadays, Channa pleurophthalma in the wild has become a rare fish species due to environmental degradation and overexploitation. However, in the aquarium fish world, it has become popular and widely bred.

Characteristics of South American bull-eyed snakehead fish

The eyes run along the body of the fish Channa pleurophthalma.

In the snakehead family, the South American bull-eyed snakehead has a very special appearance with fake eye spots on its body to lure enemies. Let's learn more about the outstanding features of this fish's shape.

• Size : Average adult length is 30 - 40 cm, weight is 1 - 2 kg.
• Body : Elongated, flattened on both sides, compact head quite similar to a snake's head, pointed snout, wide jaw, strong teeth, big eyes.
• Body color : Silvery or metallic blue, sometimes yellow or green due to environmental conditions. The belly is lighter in color.
• Has “Cow Eye” spots : Each fish will have 2 - 4 cow eye spots on the body, the spots are large round, black, with a yellow or dark blue border.
• Dorsal & anal fins : Run along the length of the body, with light stripes.
• Pectoral fins : Large, slightly transparent or gray in color.
• Scales : Large, shiny and able to reflect light.
• Has accessory respiratory organs : helps fish survive in water conditions lacking oxygen.

Behavior & Behaviour of South American Bulleye Snakehead Fish

South American bulleye snakeheads are highly territorial and do not get along well with other small fish.

The South American bulleye snakehead is a strong-willed, predatory fish with excellent survival skills. Let's learn more about its habits and behavior!

Top notch pitching ability

Because they are carnivorous fish, they have a hunting instinct, always hunting and attacking small fish, crustaceans, and insects. They hunt by hiding and then suddenly attacking. With sharp teeth and a wide mouth, they often swallow their prey whole in just one go.

Highly territorial, very aggressive

South American bull-eye snakeheads are very territorial, especially in adulthood. They do not like to interact with other fish and will readily attack strange fish that invade their territory. Therefore, you should only keep this fish alone if you do not want it to attack other fish in the tank!

Night activities

South American bull-eyed snakeheads are mainly nocturnal, and their eyes have the ability to see well in low light conditions. During the day, they prefer to hide in caves or areas with many aquatic plants, only coming out when necessary.

Likes still water, gentle flow

They prefer to live in still water conditions and places with gentle currents for easy hiding and hunting. However, they need a large space to breed.

Reproductive behavior in South American bull-eyed snakehead fish

Reproductive behavior in this fish species is as follows:

• South American bull-eyed snakehead fish reproduce by laying eggs. Female fish will lay eggs in rock crevices or nests in the mud, each time laying from 100 to 200 eggs.
• Fertilized eggs will hatch into larvae within 1 - 2 weeks, depending on the environment. During that time, the parent fish will take turns guarding their nest of eggs.
• When the fry hatch, they will continue to be protected by their parents until they are large enough to forage for food on their own.
• In some dangerous situations, the fry will be transported by the parent fish's mouth to safety.

South American Bulleye Snakehead Fish Care Guide

An aquarium filled with South American bulleye snakeheads.

South American bulleye snakehead fish need to be cared for in a special water environment and a complete diet to be able to grow healthy and have beautiful colors. Please refer to the detailed instructions below!

What do South American bulleye snakeheads eat?

Channa pleurophthalma is a carnivorous fish, so their food is mainly live animals or foods high in protein, specifically as follows:

• Live food : Shrimp, small prawns, small bait, earthworms, earthworms, crickets, grasshoppers, locusts, rice worms,...
• Pellet food : Pellet food specifically for predatory fish with high protein content.

Note :

• Feed only 1 - 2 times/day.
• Each time give just enough food, not too much because it can easily pollute the water.
• Do not feed live bait fish because these types can easily carry parasites that cause disease in fish.
• This fish can fast for 1-2 days, so if you see the fish skipping 1 or 2 meals, you don't need to worry too much.

Prepare the tank

A suitable aquarium for South American bulleye should meet the following requirements:

• Tank size : Adult South American snakehead fish can grow up to 30 - 40 cm long or more, so you need a large tank, about 300 - 500 L, so they can swim comfortably.
• Filtration system : Has a strong filtration system to help ensure water quality.
• Aquarium decoration : Need to design shelters with rocks, driftwood, plant many aquatic plants. The aquarium floor should be lined with fine sand or small gravel.
• Cover : The tank needs to be designed with a cover to prevent them from jumping out.

Water quality parameters

Water quality is the most important factor determining the longevity and health of South American bull-eyed snakehead fish. Water parameters need to meet the following basic requirements:

• Temperature : Stable between 26 - 28 degrees Celsius.
• pH : About 6.5 - 7.5.
• Hardness : Moderate ranging from 5 - 15 dGH.
• Ammonia, Nitrite : Always 0.
• Nitrate : 20 - 40 ppm.
• Dissolved oxygen : At 5 - 6 mg/L.

Procedure for releasing new South American bull-eye snakehead fish into the tank

When you first buy a South American Bull-Eyed Snakehead Fish, do not immediately release it into the aquarium. You must go through a number of steps to help the fish adapt to the new environment, avoid heat shock or stress. Follow the instructions below to help release the new fish safely!

• Step 1 : Check the water parameters in the tank to see if they meet the requirements. If not, the water must be treated to meet the standards first.
• Step 2 : Let the fish bag float on the fish for 15 - 30 minutes to help the fish avoid heat shock.
• Step 3 : Add water from the tank to the fish bag, add 20 - 30% water every 5 minutes, repeat 3 - 4 times to help the fish get used to the new environment.
• Step 4 : Use a net to scoop the fish from the bag and gently drop them into the tank. Turn off the lights for 2-3 hours so the fish can get used to it and not panic.
• Step 5 : Observe the fish's behavior to see if there is anything unusual. After releasing the fish for 12-24 hours, you should feed them for the first time.

Common diseases in South American bulleye snakehead fish

Like other ornamental fish, South American bull-eye snakehead fish are susceptible to a number of diseases caused by dirty water, parasites or stress. Below are some common diseases in this fish breed, let's learn about the signs and how to handle them promptly!

Price of South American bull-eyed snakehead fish

The South American bull-eyed snakehead fish is a beautiful, rare ornamental fish and it is currently not very popular in the Vietnamese ornamental fish market, so its price is not widely announced. However, based on the price of other ornamental snakehead fish, the price of the South American bull-eyed snakehead fish will fluctuate between 500,000 - 1,200,000 VND.

To know the exact price, you should contact the aquarium stores that specialize in selling this fish species for more detailed information.

Beautiful South American bulleye snakehead fish pictures

Please admire the unique beauty of the South American bull-eyed snakehead fish through the images we have collected below!

A South American bulleye snakehead fish swims gracefully in the aquarium.

A South American bulleye snakehead fish with many "bull eyes" on its body.

South American bull-eyed snakehead fish prefer environments with lots of aquatic plants and caves.

An adult South American bulleye snakehead has a very unique appearance.

Through the above article, snakehead.info has shared detailed information about the South American bull-eyed snakehead fish , a breed of ornamental fish with a special appearance with unique "bull eyes", an aggressive temperament and a very high territoriality. If you want to try your hand at a carnivorous predatory ornamental fish with an impressive appearance, this breed of fish is a very good choice.

Goodbye and see you soon in the next articles of the Blog section to continue learning more about many other beautiful ornamental snakehead fish species!