Keeping Snakeheads in Aquariums

Snakeheads are interesting aquarium fish that unfortunately grows very big. There are however a few smaller species that are more suitable for aquariums. Never buy Snakeheads if you don't have a very large aquarium and a large food budget. Adult snakeheads are territorial and it can sometimes be hard to keep more then one specimen of the larger species in the same aquarium.

Different snakeheads prefer different aquarium setups however most species thrive in an aquarium with planted areas and a lot of hiding places. Many snakehead species spawn in planted areas and plants helps them feel at home. Make sure that all decoration is properly secured and place all larger rocks directly on the glass to make the decoration snakehead safe. They should never be kept with fishes that are less then 2/3 of the snakeheads size since smaller fishes might be considered food. A fish isn't safe just because it doesn't fit into the mouth of a snakehead since snakehead will take bits out of it until it is devoured if it is small enough for the snakehead to consider it to be food.

Snakeheads prefer live fish but they can be trained to accept dead food. They are usually very easy to feed once they started accepting dead food and will try to eat everything you put in the aquarium and that fits into their mouth including heaters etc. Snakeheads eat a lot which means that large regular water changes are necessary. I recommend changing at least 50% of the water in the aquarium once a week.

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