Description
Africana Snakehead – A Hardy Predator with Bold Personality
(Parachanna africana)
The Africana Snakehead (Parachanna africana) is a striking and hardy freshwater predator native to West Africa. With its elongated body, vibrant markings, and impressive predatory behavior, this snakehead species is a favorite among experienced aquarists who enjoy keeping bold, intelligent fish. Known for its adaptability and resilience, the Africana Snakehead thrives in a well-maintained species-only setup or with carefully chosen tankmates.
Key Features:
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Vibrant Appearance: Dark brown to olive body with mottled or banded patterns
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Medium Size: Typically reaches 25–30 cm (10–12 inches) in captivity
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Air-Breather: Has a labyrinth-like organ allowing it to breathe air—requires surface access
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Highly Intelligent: Recognizes keepers and displays interactive behavior
Tank Requirements:
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Minimum tank size: 200 liters (55+ gallons)
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Temperature: 24°C–28°C (75°F–82°F)
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pH: 6.0–7.5
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Decorate with driftwood, caves, and subdued lighting to mimic its natural habitat
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Ensure a tight-fitting lid—this species is known to jump and can survive out of water for short periods
Compatibility:
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Best kept alone or with large, robust tankmates
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Will eat smaller fish and invertebrates
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Territorial—provide plenty of hiding spaces if housing more than one
Feeding Tips:
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Carnivorous—feeds on live or frozen fish, shrimp, earthworms, and other meaty foods
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Can be trained to accept high-quality pellets for predatory fish
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Feed 3–4 times per week to prevent obesity and maintain water quality
Why Choose the Africana Snakehead?
The Africana Snakehead is a hardy and rewarding fish for experienced aquarists seeking something bold and unique. With its vivid appearance, responsive personality, and strong presence, it adds a primal beauty to any large freshwater setup.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery up to 10 miles: £10
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Delivery up to 25 miles: £20
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DPD Next Day: 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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DX Next Day (Heavy Items & Small Aquariums): 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
Payment & Security
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