Common names
Bullseye snakehead
Great snakehead
Channa marulius
- Freshwater
- Least concern
Max length72 in
Common length18 in
Length typeTotal Length
Max weight66 lb 2 oz
Water typeFreshwater
Water temperature75 - 82 °F
Fish info
IUCN Vulnerability status
Short description
Great snakehead are air-breathing fish with dark red eyes and flattened elongated bodies. There is a rose-like pattern of scales on its head similar to the epidermal scales on snakes. Juveniles are colourful with dark patches along the sides and as it matures, change to dark blackish-brown with black blotches with reddish-orange markings. Near the base of its tail, the great snakehead has an orange and black eye spot or ocellus that resembles a “bullseye”. This marking can cause misidentification with Emperor Snakehead and the North American bowfin. It has a long anal fin and pectoral fins that are half the length of its head. All of its fins are pale with a reddish shade. The mouth is large with 7-18 canines behind a row of villiform teeth in their protruding, scaleless lower jaw.
Habitat
Adults occur in sluggish or standing water in canals, lakes, and swamps. Inhabit waters with submerged aquatic vegetation. Usually found only in deep pools in rivers and occasionally in lakes.
Distribution
A large species of snakehead native to South Asia. It has been introduced to the United States, where it is considered an invasive species. In the United States, it can be found in waterways throughout South Florida originating from the C-14 Canal.
Behaviour
Carnivorous and subsist on a diverse diet of fish, crustaceans, gastropods, larval insects, non-biting midges, frogs, snakes, tadpoles, earthworms, small water birds, snakes, turtles, and even rodents. Males are territorial. May bite when caught. Have the ability to breathe/gulp air. It spawns from March to May and from August to November. It builds floating nests where eggs hatch within 48 hours. The young will stay there for ten days and will be guarded by the parents for a month.
Edibility
They are being sold live and fetch high prices in the market, due to their excellent-tasting flesh and lack of fine bones.
Lure suggestion
Some top picks for lure-fishing snakeheads include topwater frogs, Walk-the-dog lures, poppers, buzz-baits, chatterbaits, and spinnerbaits. Good bait: mummichog minnow (the bigger the better), other small fish of any species, frogs and crayfish.