There are currently very few cultivated varieties among Channa species. Only albinos of Channa striata have been bred in aquaculture, and—also from aquaculture—a silvery-white breed of Channa argus called “Pearl White Lemon” (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/25-perchlike-fishes/25a-perchlike-fishes-1-labyrinth-fishes/channa_white_pearl_lemon_en/); these fish were described in 1936 as Channa argus kimurai.
Channa asiatica is a species with many variants or, as is generally guessed today, a species complex of anatomically indistinguishable species that differ quite distinctly in color. Because the scientific community has so far assumed there is only one species, hobbyists breeding these fish—Channa asiatica grows up to 40 cm long but reaches sexual maturity at half that length—have frequently interbred strains from different locations.
In the Western world, Channa asiatica is notorious among aquarists for its unpredictability. Even pairs that have frequently produced offspring together (the species does not build a nest; the eggs are laid on the water’s surface and cared for by both parents) can suddenly fall out after years of harmonious coexistence and then fight to the death. For this reason, C. asiatica (in the broadest sense) is found only very rarely in the ornamental fish trade, although the species can be very beautiful. It is primarily distributed in China and on nearby islands.
There are breeders in Taiwan who are now specifically breeding various color variants of Channa asiatica. Whether these fish are kept there purely for their own sake or, with typical Asian pragmatism, simultaneously as food and aquarium fish, is beyond our knowledge. From this source, we have now imported a “Platinum” variant of Channa asiatica for the first time. Channa asiatica can be immediately distinguished from the color-similar Channa argus “Pearl White Lemon”—which is classified as potentially invasive in the EU and therefore banned—by the lack of pelvic fins in C. asiatica.
Caring for Channa asiatica is very simple; these animals do not require a heater in home aquariums. The aquarium must be sized appropriately for the expected growth. When kept alone, you acquire a pet that becomes tame and can bring joy to its owner for many years. They will eat any coarse food of meat origin, such as earthworms, live or frozen feeder fish, all kinds of seafood, gammarus, mealworms, other insects, etc., but these fish will usually also accept cichlid sticks and coarse pellets. When attempting to breed them, care should be taken to ensure that the water temperature does not rise much above 22°C, as at higher temperatures the aggressive potential of these fish comes into full play. Water parameters are irrelevant for care and breeding; any tap water is suitable.
For our customers: C. asiatica “Platinum” is listed under code 409240 in our inventory; the animals are currently 12–15 cm long. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesale customers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
