Forest Snakehead (5 cm)

• Distribution & Habitat: Found in Southeast Asia, southern China, and parts of the Malay Archipelago (including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and Singapore). It primarily inhabits shaded, slow-moving forest streams, rivers, and wetland habitats.

• Special organs: A primitive lung (modified swim bladder) lets the fish gulp air at the water surface to survive in low-oxygen water.

• Environment: Prefers shallow, slow-moving water, marshes, swamps, and muddy riverbeds.

Size & Physical Description:

• Grows up to approximately 40 to 53 cm in length.

• Features distinct “port-hole” markings along its sides and a noticeably more tapering head shape compared to other snakehead species. 
• Juveniles are pale with three distinct lateral stripes.

Diet:

• Juveniles: Feed primarily on small aquatic invertebrates, including insect larvae, small prawns, and zooplankton.

• Live Food: Earthworms, ghost shrimp, and small feeder fish (though feeder fish carry a risk of introducing diseases).
  
• Prepared Meats: As adults/sub-adults, they can be trained to eat dead or frozen foods such as chopped fish fillets, whole prawns/shrimp, mussels, and strips of squid.