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Lapradei Bichir (Polypterus bichir "Lapradei")
23–28°C · pH 6.5–7.5
£47.99
Rainbow snakehead from India, a colourful 15 cm dwarf Channa. Carnivorous, cooler-water (20-26C), best in a 120 L species tank.
Care at a Glance
Scientific Name
Channa bleheri
Max Adult Size
up to 15 cm
Lifespan
8 years
Care Level
Moderate
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Temperature
20–26°C
pH Range
6–7.5
Hardness
1–12 dGH
Minimum Tank
120L
Diet
Carnivore
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Water Parameters
Temperature
20–26°C
20°CIdeal26°C
pH Level
6–7.5
6Ideal7.5
Water Hardness
1–12 dGH
1 dGHIdeal12 dGH
Channa bleheri
Channa bleheri - Tropical Fish for Sale UK
Moderate Care
Semi-Aggressive
£51.99Sold Out
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Live arrival guaranteed. If they don’t arrive healthy, email us a short unboxing video the same day for a replacement or refund. Packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed.
£19.95 tracked delivery — half price (£9.98) from £100.00, free from £200.00. One delivery charge however many fish you add — everything travels together with a licensed live-animal courier.
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Rainbow snakehead from India, a colourful 15 cm dwarf Channa. Carnivorous, cooler-water (20-26C), best in a 120 L species tank.
Care at a Glance
Scientific Name
Channa bleheri
Max Adult Size
up to 15 cm
Lifespan
8 years
Care Level
Moderate
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Temperature
20–26°C
pH Range
6–7.5
Hardness
1–12 dGH
Minimum Tank
120L
Diet
Carnivore
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Water Parameters
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Temperature
20–26°C
20°CIdeal26°C
pH Level
6–7.5
6Ideal7.5
Water Hardness
1–12 dGH
1 dGHIdeal12 dGH
India’s rainbow snakehead has a way of converting sceptics. Channa bleheri pairs brilliant, multi-hued colouring with the fascinating behaviour that has built snakehead keeping into a devoted corner of the hobby — a predator, certainly, but a compact one at around 15cm, and far more manageable than the giants of the genus. We rate it Moderate care and recommend it to keepers ready for a fish with genuine character rather than another community staple.
Crucially, this is a cooler-water tropical: 20–26°C is the correct band, and warmer than that sits outside its range. Soft, gently acidic to neutral water of pH 6.0–7.5 and 1–12 dGH completes the picture, in an aquarium of at least 120 litres. As a carnivore it takes meaty foods, holding station in the middle layers of the tank. The proven formula is a species tank housing one fish or a compatible pair. Tankmates are possible but the bar is high: very robust, similarly sized fish that cannot fit in its mouth and that tolerate the cooler water. Cross off small fish, shrimp and other small invertebrates, fin-nippers, highly aggressive cichlids and boisterous, hyperactive species.
Mid-water is where you will actually see it. Unlike the bottom-hugging predators of the catfish world, Channa bleheri holds the middle layers, which makes it a remarkably visible fish for something so deliberate. A compatible pair doubles the spectacle where the fish accept one another, but resist any urge to round out the tank with extras: the avoid list above exists because this carnivore wrote it. With eight years of expected lifespan and extra territoriality around breeding, this is a fish to plan for, not improvise around.
Rainbow snakehead care facts
- Temperature: 20–26°C — a cooler-water species
- pH 6.0–7.5; hardness 1–12 dGH
- Tank: 120 litres minimum
- Adult size: ~15cm; lifespan around 8 years
- Carnivore; occupies the middle water column
- Semi-aggressive — best singly or as a compatible pair
Is this the snakehead for you?
Commit to the species-tank approach unless you can meet every tankmate criterion above — half-measures cost fish. Done right, a rainbow snakehead becomes the most-watched animal in the house. Channa bleheri travels to any UK address by licensed live-animal courier, accompanied by our live arrival guarantee.
Customer Reviews
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What customers say about ordering from us
4.6 on Google Maps, rated 4.6 out of 5 (opens in a new tab)4.4 · 91 shop reviews read them, rated 4.4 out of 5
- 4 out of 5Verified buyer
I have a small group of long finned mountain minnows. So was delighted to be able to order ten of this variety to increase the genetics in my tank . The ones I recieved are healthy but it’s to early to give a verdict on wether they are of a long finned type since they are small currently.
Gordon Walker · 23 Sept 2026
- 5 out of 5Verified buyer
100% success travel and "installation". Pleased with quality of purchase. The Siamese fighter a bit "shy" so have not yet seen him at his best yet but looking good. Happy customer. GG
George E Garratt · 21 Sept 2026
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