Emperor snakehead

Scientific name: Channa marulioides

Pronunciation: Cha-nah ma-roo-lee-oi-dees

Size: To around 65cm

Origin: Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand

Habitat: Usually lakes, but also slow moving and large rivers

Tank size: 4x1.2x1.2m

Water requirements: Very wide tolerances; 6.0-7.5pH, hardness 2-12°H

Temperature: 22-28°C

Temperament: Aggressive predators, best housed alone or with other giant fish

Feeding: Large meaty foods; whole fish, occasional prawns, silkworm pupae, earthworms, waxworms, crickets, locusts. Insects may require gut loading first with vegetable or cereal

Availability and cost: Tends to be one for specialist stores, prices start around £40 for a 10cm juvenile

This one’s a bit of an oddity as snakeheads go, spending time out and about swimming around rather than lurking in the foliage. In turn, that makes it one of the likelier species to investigate the top of its tank, and if it spots a gap, it’ll be out. While all snakeheads require a tight-fitting hood on their aquariums, this one would benefit from it being weighed down, too.

This species is right on the cusp of being an untankable in the home setting. A huge system will be needed, at least six times as long as the fish itself, and twice as wide. Franky, we’re into indoor pond territory with that. Wherever it is, keep the water flow minimal, as the Emperor snakehead hails from slow moving rivers at best, and ponds or lakes out of preference. The Emperor snakehead comes in a few colour patterns, pending where it has been collected, and can be confused with the related Great snakehead, Channa marulius — the name marulioides literally means ‘like marilius’. House this fish very much alone, as it’s impatient of almost any tankmate. Lots of overhead cover will help to keep it a little calmer too.