Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Got A Great Recipe To Share???? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: William H Huebl who wrote (10630)	7/14/2002 5:53:30 PM
From: Ish	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25073

It almost sounds like we should be stocking them instead of the fish I can't catch. What are snakehead fish species? The main distribution of the snakehead fish is found in the Indo- Pacific area with other of the twenty five species found from the Amur across China, Indonesia, Burma, western India, Sri Lanka and into the tropical areas of Africa. This fish is prized for its excellence in taste, even being eaten smoked or dried. Oddly this predatory fish is known to swallow prey which is as large as itself. Adults are known to prey on fish, frogs, aquatic birds and small mammals, while the juvenile snakehead fish prey on earthworms, water bugs, tadpoles, dragonfly larvae and other similar organisms. During the juvenile stage this fish is very colorful which has led to many being kept in aquariums where they have been trained to eat strips of meat from their owners fingers. These intelligent and easy to keep fish are known to quickly recognize their keepers. Snakehead fish require large amounts of food and are continuously hungry which makes keeping them supplied with enough live food a bit difficult. The only species of this fish that is appropriate for the aquarium are the Channa asiatica and Channa gachua since all others of the species become much too large. These two species tend to reach their maximum length in one to two years. Others of the adult species tend to have a fairly uniform coloration with the typical snakehead fish ranging from brown to greenish in color. They have several diagonal bands that are dark and form angles or rectangular spots that are often accompanied by rows of spots that appear to be mother of pearl in color. In most cases the dorsal and anal fins are seamed in red. Although the mating ritual of the snakehead fish is a quite display, these fish are known to mate only with one of their own size. When a smaller partner has been introduced, the larger fish is likely to swallow its partner rather than mate. When the females are ready for spawning the belly region will become full and swollen. The male will take on colors that are brighter than the females. Both fish will approach the surface of the water during the morning hours swimming in ever narrowing circles until they come together. As the yellowish eggs are laid, each in its own air bubble, the male fertilizes them. The eggs rise to the waters surface where they are guarded by both the male and female for two to three days until they have hatched. Young snakehead fish will use the large yolk sac to cling to plants for approximately eight days and begin swimming normally just prior to the yolk sacs being consumed. Juvenile snakehead fish prefer to retire to quite sites to digest their food while the adults lie quietly on the oceans floor where they are easily caught. Once the young snakehead fish are old enough to feed on larger prey they will leave the area to find their own territory which they will defend. These fish are excellent jumpers with some being seen leaping out of the water to capture small organisms. This has made it a necessity that when they are kept in aquariums, the tank must be completely covered. It is also necessary to house this fish only with others of its kind and size since they are known to eat other species or those of smaller size. Snakehead fish have been successfully bred in captivity with the favorite African species Channa obscura considered to be the most beautiful. Author's name omitted by request idid.essortment.com