Thailand's most famous specie the giant snakehead (Channa micropeltes) is a freshwater fish species in the snakeheads family (family Channidae) of order Perciformes (perch-likes). The giant snakehead is a native specie to the ecosystems of the Mekong River basin and the Chao Phraya River basin in Thailand.
Giant Snakehead Diet
The adult giant snakehead feeds primarily by hunting fish and occasionally will take small mammals such as rats. The juvenile giant snakehead feeds on algae and plankton until it reaches maturity.
Giant Snakehead Identification
The Giant Snakehead is also known as the Toman. The eel-like body of the adult Giant Snakehead has a broad, dark, longitudinal stripe; juveniles will have two black longitudinal stripes with a bright orange intermediate area. The dorsal fin is long stretching across the back; a small head with a big mouth displays rows of sharp teeth for trapping its prey. The giant snakehead has a physiological need to breathe atmospheric air forcing it to surface and trap air in its suprabranchial organ.
Giant Snakehead Flyfishing in Thailand
Thailand Flyfishing Season: July - March
Malevolent, aggressive, and ferocious are not exaggerated descriptions of the wrath and vehemence of the snakehead as it attacks the fly. It’s intent is to maim, kill and destroy. The snakehead attack is not on a par with pike, bass or barramundi – this predator is infuriated to a state of murderous intent.
The snakehead can migrate overland using it’s pectoral fins to drive itself forward. A Snakehead when caught and boated does not lay quietly in the bottom of the boat. It uses it’s pectoral fins to try and climb out of the boat.
Snakeheads are fiercely protective of their young. Once the eggs have hatched both parents guard the fry. The fry are herded together and kept in a ball by both parents who then maintain a watchful eye over them.
The ball of fry “luk krok” (Thai name) remains in a close school for several months. When hatched the young Snakeheads are a black colour, turning to a bright red as they grow. The size of the ball varies between 0.5 and 1.5 square metres and moves both vertically and horizontally in the water. The parents periodically drive the young to the surface to breathe air. This surfacing action appears as if rain is falling on the water but the time spent in the topwater is brief. If the parents sense any danger, they may split the ball into two - each part escorted by a parent. The ball is reunited only when the parents sense that danger has passed.
Usually the female (larger size) Snakehead stays close to the fry, while the smaller male maintains a patrol - ready to strike at anything which may pose a threat to the young. If one parent is killed the other remains with the fry. Usually the male is taken first leaving the larger female to guard the fry.
Local fisherman in Thailand claim that if both parents are taken, another pair of snakeheads will take over and nurture the fry. Only until they are large enough to eat when the foster parents will pick off the young one by one.
These predatory traits make the snakehead a top fly fishng quarry fish and a perfect freshwater predator. Understanding Snakehead behaviour allows for some of the most exhilarating fly fishing experiences imaginable.
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