The Snakehead Forum

Scientific Name: Channa bankanensis

Known Common or Trade Names: Bangka or Banka Snakehead
It is important to understand that common names can be applied to many individual species and does not guarantee the correct identification of the fish in question.


Original Description: Pieter Bleeker, 1852 (Dutch ichthyologist) (Ophiocephalus bankanensis)
Lateral line scales 55-68
Scale rows between lateral line and dorsal origin 41/2
Scale rows below lateral line and anal fin origin 7-9
Preopercular scales 5-10.
Dorsal fin rays 31-45.
Anal fin rays 20-31.




Distribution: Sumatra. Bangka Island. Rivers of central, southern, and western Kalimantan. Peat swamps of Selangor. Malaysia Peninsular.



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Size: 14cm & 30cm
It appears that there maybe two separate types of Channa bankanensis, one reaching 14cm the other reaching 30cm.


Description: Reddish-brown coloration
Patch of scales present on top part of the head.
Numerous spots on fins.
Large canine-like teeth on prevomer and palatines.
Lateral line scales 55-68
Scale rows between lateral line and dorsal origin 41/2
Scale rows below lateral line and anal fin origin 7-9
Preopercular scales 5-10.
Dorsal fin rays 31-45.
Anal fin rays 20-31.





Juvenile Description: As per above Description, only smaller






Sexual Differences: Females are usually slightly plumper than the males.


Water Parameters: Does best in very soft water pH 3.8-6.5, can be kept in harder water conditions, these Channa have been found in pH as low as 2.8
Water temperature: 26-30C.
They seem to need some amount of humidic acids to really thrive (oak leaves, cones of alnus, peat or extracts of this materials).


Tanks size: The 14cm Channa bankanensis will require a minimum of an 80cm tank for a single fish or pair.
The 30cm Channa bankanensis will require a minimum of a 120cm tank for a single fish or pair.


Suggested Tanks setup: These Snakeheads require a well planted aquarium or lots of wood and rocks etc, or a combination of both.
They require plenty of Surface cover.
They require plenty of hiding places for them to retreat to.
Little or no surface movement is preferred.
These fish will do best in a soft water set up pH <6.5, this can be achieved by using Peat, Oak leaves or Almond leaves


Conspecific aggression: As with most Channidae it will not tolerate other species of snakeheads in the same tank.
Does not appear to be aggressive with its own species territory wise until a pair form, then any others will be relentlessly attacked until they are either removed or are killed.


Compatibility: Channa bankanensis is very aggressive to other species and will attack other fish even bigger fish. It will bite into the stomachs and/or tails and kill and eat them.
It is always recommended that to get the best in both behavior and appearance it is best to keep Snakeheads in a species only tank and unless a pair is formed with the majority of species a single fish.


Preferred Diet: A carnivorous predator eats other fish and invertebrates. This is not a fussy eater.
In captivity will eat or attempt to eat anything meaty dead or alive that gets placed in the tank


Breeding: As normal for Snakeheads get a group of 4+ and let a pair form, the remainder will need to be removed or will be attacked relentlessly until they are killed.
Heavy fighting may be normal during breeding.
A low pH <6.5 with no surface movement and plenty of vegetation is required for a successful spawning.
Released eggs float to the surface and are collected into a raft of around 700-1500 eggs; these are guarded by the female.
The eggs hatch after about 2-3 days




Availability: Channa bankanensis are rarely seen in normal fish shops, however can usually be found once a year in specialty fish shops. Expect to pay around £10-20 per fish


Additional Info:

Special thanks to Klaus de Leuw (http://www.klausdeleuw.de/Fische/Bangka.html) for allowing us to use photos and information off of his website.


Author: Karl Hatton http://www.snakeheadsuk.com & http://thesnakeheadforum.com 2009