The Snakehead Forum

Scientific Name: Channa barca, Ophicephalus nigricans

Known Common or Trade Names: Violet Snakehead, Barca 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: Described by Hamilton 1822. Dorsal fin rays 47-52; anal fin rays 34-36; pectoral rays 16; pelvic fin rays 6.

Distribution: Type location Goalpara, Assam India and likely to exist in the surrounding area. It is known to inhabit large rivers.

Size: This is a large Snakehead with a maximum size of 90cm–36inches. Captive fish have reached at least 75cm – 30inches.

Description: Channa barca is a bulky snakehead typical of it’s close relatives like Channa aurantimaculata, A large wide head suited to eating invertebrate food. A tall dorsal fin, much taller in relation to it size than most other snakeheads. It’s a striking looking fish, adults show a blue colouring over the flanks and top with dark spots covering it’s body. Orange pectoral fins and edges to the tail and some of the dorsal fin.

Juvenile Description: Unknown.

Sexual Differences: Males display a greater amount of blue colouring and have a larger standing dorsal fin. Female have a little more bulk to their build.

Water Parameters: A subtropical Snakehead preferring temps between 18c – 22c. During the summer months temperatures can reach the mid 20’s, This shouldn’t be the norm as many subtropical snakeheads are much happier at the cooler temps. The water is known to be soft to neutral.

Tanks size: With this fish reaching sizes in excess of 75cm a tanks of at least 75cm in width will be required and greater than 180cm in length.

Suggested Tanks setup: Known to live in holes in the banks of rivers probably dug by other creatures, birds, crabs etc, a cave should be provided to replicate this. Plenty of plant cover should be provided and surface cover and structure within the aquarium as this will help the fish feel comfortable.

Conspecific aggression: There are examples of pairs being kept with little aggression. Nobody has tried to house them with other snakeheads but it is thought they would be typical in their response to cohabitation with other snakeheads, either hide from or attack the other fish.

Compatibility: Fish form a very small part of there diet and have been kept successfully with small fish that don’t present a territorial threat like small Minnows and similar small fish. Fish that present any sort of threat will either be attacked or cause the barca to hide and not display it’s full colours or act naturally..
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: Primarily feeding on invertebrates, Shrimps, Worms, Crabs, fallen insects etc, this should form the basis of their diet. There is a story of a barca seen crawling out of the water to eat a cockroach. Various meaty foods can be fed in captivity. Mussel, shrimp, pellets and fish meat as well as live crickets and mealworms etc..

Breeding: There are a few known pairs but no successful breeding as yet.

Availability: Channa barca are one of the rarest Snakeheads in the hobby but becoming more common. Not so long ago there were very few known examples of this fish, a couple of museum examples and a very small number of captive fish. This number has increased and if you are willing to pay the money it shouldn’t be too difficult to aquire one. Prices have been reported a low as £600 up to and upwards of £2000 each.

Additional Info: For some time Channa aurantimaculata was sold under this name but for a much cheaper price.

Author. Stephen Cousins(Jelly) SnakeheadsUK.com 2009 Images provided by David Ash, and Stephen Cousins