Channa andrao

Scientific name: Channa andrao

Pronunciation: Cha-nah an-drow

Size: To 11cm

Origin: Only formally known from a swamp in northeast India, but likely found in other local areas.

Habitat: Forest swamp, where the fish spends much of its time in burrows between wet seasons

Tank size: 85x30x30cm

Water requirements: Soft and acidic to slightly alkaline water; 6.0-7.5pH, 2-12°H

Temperature: 14-28°C

Temperament: Probably the most peaceful of all Channa, and may be okay with fish over two-thrids its own size

Feeding: Small meaty chunks; earthworm, bloodworm, lancefish, prawns, mussels and river shrimp

Availability and cost: Very uncommon find needing a specialist retailer. Prices from about £35 upwards.

A true dwarf snakehead, and one of the more peaceful members of the genus genus, but still no good in a community tank tank. Anything smaller than about 2/3rd the snakehead’s length may be at risk, but go for some larger, active midwater swimmers and you might get away with it.

Channa andrao comes from a region where the temperature varies greatly with the seasons, dropping as low as 14°C in the cooler winter months, and up to 28°C in summer. While you don’t need to replicate that to these extremes, a pronounced seasonal shift will be needed for the sake of the fish’s lifespan. Any tankmates won’t like that.

Either get some low output lights on the tank, or pack it out with heaps of plants (and especially floating plants). Sometimes it gets sold under different names like C. sp. ‘Assam’ or C. sp. ‘Blue bleheri’. Be careful not to confuse it with the real Channa bleheri, which is also a dwarf.