Family: Channidae
Forest Snakehead — a Channidae from Indonesia. Reaches 39.8–58.3 cm; keep at 22–26 °C.
Channa lucius is a Channidae from Indonesia. In the wild it prefers still and slow waters among vegetation; in the aquarium it stays predatory. Plan on 39.8–58.3 cm of adult fish at 22–26 °C. Related profiles: Channa argus, Channa asiatica, Channa aurantimaculata.
Intermediate difficulty. Predatory; ambush hunter; singles; will eat smaller tankmates.
Aim for 22–26 °C. Heater for stable warmth; 22–26 °C recorded range.
Expect 39.8–58.3 cm as an adult, living bottom-dwelling. A 500 L tank or larger gives it room.
Carnivore; meaty foods. It forages naturally over soft sand, so let some food reach the bottom.
Yes, with care. Predatory; ambush hunter — pair it with Similar-sized peaceful community fish — Similar size and water needs and skip Much smaller fish — May outcompete or bully tiny tankmates.
Native to Indonesia, where it lives in still and slow waters among vegetation. Still to gentle; Tolerates low oxygen; air-breathing.
It can jump when startled — keep the tank tightly covered, especially at night and during maintenance.
In the aquarium: bubble-nest or mouthbrooding by species. Males have a narrower head.