Bangka Snakehead
Channa bankanensis
(Bleeker, 1853)
What are they and how big do they get?
Channa bankanensis is a tropical species of snakehead belonging to the genus Channa. It is an attractive snakehead that naturally occurs in both Indonesia and Malaysia.
Channa bankanensis is commonly known as the Bangka snakehead.
There are two distinct geographical varieties of the Bangka snakehead: a dwarf variety and a giant variety. The dwarfs normally attain a size of around 6 in (15 cm), and the giants normally attain a size of around 12 in (30 cm). It's the dwarf variety that is most encountered within the hobby.
What temperature can they be kept at?
Bangka snakeheads do well when being maintained within a temperature range of around 24-28 °C (75-82 °F).
How many can be kept together?
A single specimen, a pair, or a group with caution.
Bangka snakeheads may cohabitate as a group, but things can soon escalate, especially if/when a pair forms. In the event of a pair forming, ensure that any other fish are removed or deaths can be expected!
If you're planning to establish a pair from a group of juveniles, a group of 6 is often a good starting point. As above, when a pair has formed, intervention is needed.
Please note: Bonded pairs fall out; the fallout is sometimes referred to as a divorce. If a divorce happens (and unpredictably, it can), be prepared to split the pair.
Do not attempt to reintroduce the pair until any injured fish are fully recovered.
Water parameters?
This is where the demanding part comes in!
Bangka snakeheads are acidophiles that naturally experience pH extremes of less than pH 3. They come from soft blackwater environments that are naturally highly acidic. Such conditions must be considered for life in captivity. It can be a challenge to achieve such conditions within captivity, but it is possible.
pH - 2.8-3.8
dGH - up to 10 degrees.
To achieve such pH levels, the use of a pH pen and phosphoric acid can be employed—please ask a member of staff for instructions.
RO water may be required to assist with replicating soft water conditions.
Captive snakeheads have shown to tolerate a wider range of conditions, but to avoid health issues and complications, it is best to try and replicate their natural parameters as close as possible.
What do they eat in captivity and how often should they be fed?
Snakeheads will accept many food items. However, to provide a well-balanced and healthy diet, we recommend the following foods:
Dried foods: Crushed flakes may be fed to fry. Pellets (such as Hikari Cichlid Gold) can be fed to juveniles and adults, increasing the pellet size in accordance with the fish's size.
Dendrobaena/Earthworms: They're a delicious treat that can often be purchased at pet shops or angling supply shops. They can also be locally harvested, but make sure they're not contaminated with any insecticides or pesticides. Such contaminations could be detrimental to your fish.
Insects – crickets, locusts, etc. These can be purchased at pet shops. Insects are a fantastic food, and to increase their nutritional value, they can be gutloaded. To gut-load them, simply ensure that the insects have been fed some nutritious greens before using them as a food item.
It is important to note that snakeheads are gluttonous, making them prone to obesity. Monitor their weight, and if they appear to be carrying excess weight, cut their feeding back until they return to a healthy state.
Which tankmates are recommended?
None. We do not recommend any tankmates.
Given their demanding care requirements and unpredictable nature, a species-specific aquarium is by far the most sensible and safest approach.
The aquarium?
The aquarium should be spacious and enriching.
Wood and rocks can be used and arranged in such a way to provide areas of refuge and rest.
Chunks of bogwood, twigs, leaves, alder cones, and other seed pods can be used to assist with creating blackwater conditions.
We'd normally encourage plants in an aquarium that contains snakeheads, but given the highly acidic environment needed for Bangka snakeheads, real plants are likely to melt. Artificial plants may be a sensible choice.
Snakeheads are accomplished jumpers and can soon escape the aquarium. Therefore, it is imperative that the aquarium be secure. A tight-fitting lid (possibly weighed down) is essential.
Snakeheads are obligate air-breathers, meaning that they must surface for air; otherwise, they'll drown. Be sure to leave a sufficient gap between the lid and the surface of the water.
Will they breed in captivity?
Bangka snakeheads have been bred in captivity, but it isn't a common occurrence.
Other notes
The discovery of an escaped snakehead is concerning. Often, our initial reaction is to panic and put the escaped snakehead straight back into the main aquarium. Doing so may prove to be a fatal mistake!
We often don't know how long the snakehead has been out of the water for, and if it is exhausted, it may be too weak to surface for air and will drown.
An escaped snakehead can be placed into a bucket containing just enough aquarium water to cover its back. This way, the snakehead can easily breathe from the surface and have time to rest and recover. When sufficiently recovered, it can be placed back into the main aquarium.
Conclusion
If you can cater to their demands and are a fan of blackwater aquariums, Bangka snakeheads might be just what you're looking for!