Rainbow Snakehead (Channa bleheri)

Channa bleheri, the Rainbow Snakehead, is a small and spectacularly coloured snakehead from the Brahmaputra basin in Assam, India, displaying dazzling orange, blue, and black banding that intensifies during the breeding season. Unlike most snakeheads, it prefers cooler water temperatures (16–24°C), making it suitable for subtropical setups. Popular among snakehead enthusiasts for its manageable size and extraordinary coloration. A labyrinth fish — must have access to atmospheric air.

Minimum 120 L with tight-fitting lid — powerful jumper. pH 6.5–7.5, GH 2–12, KH 0–6, temperature 16–24°C; no heater needed in most temperate climates. Feed live and frozen meaty foods: earthworms, crickets, shrimp, larger pellets. Keep alone or in mated pairs — aggressive to most fish. Atmospheric air access essential. Provide dense surface vegetation.