Niger Snakehead - Parachanna africana

Species name: Parachanna africana

Synonym: Channa africanus; Parophiocephalus africanus

Common name: Niger Snakehead

Family: Channidae

Order: Perciformes

Class: Actinopterygii

Maximum size: 32 cm / 13 inches

Environment: freshwater

Origin: Southern Benin to southern Nigeria, primarily the Oueme River and Niger basin.

Temperament: Predatory

Company: Parachanna Africana (Niger Snakehead) should not be kept with smaller fishes.

Water parameters: Temperature 22-28˚C / 72-82˚F; pH 6-7.5

Aquarium setup: Parachanna Africana (Niger Snakehead) requires a very large aquarium. The decoration is less important as long as it offers a lot of areas to swim on. Plants can be used but should not be dominant. Parachanna Africana (Niger Snakehead) can tolerate low oxygen conditions in water because they are air breathers from an early age. When prevented from surface access, adult snakeheads will die due to lack of oxygen.

Feeding: Parachanna Africana (Niger Snakehead) accepts all kinds of live food.

Breeding: unknown.

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