Rainbow snakehead
Channa bleheri (the rainbow snakehead) is a species of dwarf snakehead that is endemic to the Brahmaputra River basin in the Indian states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It is among the most colorful species of snakehead.
Among dwarf snakeheads, it is the only nestbrooder; all others are mouthbrooders. Females, which are smaller than males, appear to initiate courtship, although the male selects the nesting site, and both parents will guard the larvae.
The adult male and female move near the surface for sex. These fish are benthopelagic, meaning that they mostly dwell near the bottom of bodies of water.
This species is one of the favorite snakeheads for aquariums because of the colors that inspired its common name. Juveniles that have reached one centimetre (0.4 in) have yellow bodies, and adults have large orange or red spots.
This fish grows to 17 cm (6.7 in) in standard length and is a part of the group known informally as dwarf snakeheads.
