Swamp in Tebo Ilir Jambi, Indonesia

Channa melasoma is one of the most rare snakehead fish. Information on their habitats is scarce, and it is not surprising. One of the places where they can be found is the swamps Tebo Ilir jambi, Indonesia, which are difficult to study and occupy a large area of ​​the island. Continuous swamps connected by slowly flowing rivers and streams, where the water is usually stained with a dark brown color due to the large amount of dissolved humic acids. The bottom is covered with driftwood, branches and fallen leaves, the water is acidic and the pH can drop to 4.5-5.0. Sometimes there is rich aquatic vegetation there.

In the aquarium, the wetland part of the stream is reproduced with lots of driftwood and slow flow, these are the preferred carachetistics of Channa melasoma. Trichogaster trichopterus, Anabas testudineus, and Trichopsis vittata can be its tankmates in such a biotope.