When do snakehead fish spawn? A detailed explanation of the spawning season and timing

The snakehead fish is currently a relatively popular food fish. It is not only high in nutritional value but also has few bones, making it suitable for men, women, the young and the old alike, so it is farmed in many regions. To raise snakehead fish well, you must understand knowledge related to spawning, so when do snakehead fish spawn?

1. When do snakehead fish spawn?

The snakehead fish reaches sexual maturity at the age of 2 winters, with individuals over 30 cm in length and over 0.5 kg in weight. A fish with a body length of 50 cm carries 35,000 eggs, one of 40 cm carries 20,000 eggs, and one of 30 cm carries about 10,000 eggs. Generally, each kilogram of body weight carries 10,000 to 20,000 eggs, and spawning occurs in multiple batches. In the spawning and breeding season, the period is April to May in South China and May to July in the northern regions. The breeding water temperature for snakehead fish is 18-30°C, with the optimum temperature being 23-28°C. Natural spawning mostly takes place along the banks of still waters where aquatic plants are lush. Before spawning, the female and male parent fish together carry aquatic plants or plant fragments to build a round fish nest. It is about 50 cm in diameter and floats on the water surface. After the nest is built, before dawn when the wind is calm and the waves are still, the female and male fish chase each other and become sexually excited, and finally spawn on the nest. After spawning, the parent fish lurk at the bottom of the nest, protecting the eggs until the fry grow to 4-5 cm, when the parent fish leave the nest and stop guarding the young.

2. How big can snakehead fish grow?

Snakehead fish can generally grow to 5 jin, and the northern snakehead can live over 100 years, making it a long-lived fish among freshwater fish. The snakehead fish has very strong vitality, ranking first among freshwater fish.

The largest northern snakehead found so far is nearly 1.5 m long (some say 1.2 m) and weighs up to 15 pounds (about 7 kg). It is said to have been found in Russia.

Overall, the spawning time of snakehead fish differs by region, but most spawn around May. When spawning, the female and male fish first build a nest and then spawn.