Channa striata (Bloch, 1793)

Freshwater, Brackish, Fishery, Commercial

Breeds in ditches, ponds and flooded paddy fields. Young shoal at the surface and are guarded by the male parent , hiding below the surface water . In captivity, as soon as the male bends its body close to the female during mating, milt is released following the release of the eggs .

Potamodromous. Migrating within streams, migratory in rivers, e.g. Saliminus, Moxostoma, Labeo. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Inhabits ponds, streams and rivers, preferring stagnant and muddy water of plains . Found mainly in swamps, but also occurs in the lowland rivers. More common in relatively deep (1-2 m), still water. Very common in freshwater plains . Occurs in medium to large rivers, brooks, flooded fields and stagnant waters including sluggish flowing canals . Survives dry season by burrowing in bottom mud of lakes, canals and swamps as long as skin and air-breathing apparatus remain moist and subsists on the stored fat . Feeds on fish, frogs, snakes, insects, earthworms, tadpoles and crustaceans . Also feeds on smaller herbivorous fishes, enters the flooded forest in high water . Undertakes lateral migration from the Mekong mainstream, or other permanent water bodies, to flooded areas during the flood season and returns to the permanent water bodies at the onset of the dry season . During winter and dry season, its flesh around coelomic cavity is heavily infested by a larval trematode Isoparorchis hypselobargi. Other parasites infecting this fish include Pallisentis ophicephali in the intestine and Neocamallanus ophicepahli in the pyloric caecae .

Acanthogyrus Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Aeromonosis. Bacterial ; Allogomtiorema Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Anchistrocephalus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Anchor worm Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Anchorworm Disease (Lernaea sp.). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Bothriocephalus Infestation 3. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Camallanus Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Camallanus Infection 11. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Centrocestus Infestation 2. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; Cercaria Disease (e.). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.) ; False Fungal Infection (Epistylissp. ). Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc. )

Rivers, swampy wetlands, culture tanks, paddy fields

Habitat benthopelagic; potamodromous ; freshwater; brackish; pH range: 7.0 - 8.0; dH range: 20; depth range 1 - 10 m , usually 1 - 2 m

IUCN Redlist Category: Least Concern

Not Evaluated IUCN 2006

fisheries: highly commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums