Swamp in Tebo Ilir Jambi, Indonesia

_st place in Biotope Aquarium Design Contest 2022

Volume of aquarium: 150

Dimensions of aquarium: 100x50x30

List of fishes: Channa Melasoma, Trichogaster trichopterus, Trichopsis vittata, Anabas testudineus, Palaemonetes sp

List of plants: none

Description of Decorations and Substrate: Aquarium decoration : Roots, wood, leaf, twigs, and sand.

Substrate in aquarium
Sand : Black
Pebble/Gravel : Black
Stone : Black
Stone form : Irregular
Silt/Mud : Black
Leaves : Many
Driftwood : Many
Submerged terrestrial vegetation : Yes

Description of Equipment: Aquarium equipment : Canister Filter Fluval FX6, DIY lamp 60 watt.
Set-up date : April 2020
Aquarium decoration : Roots, wood, leaf, twigs, and sand.
Fish care : Feed daily (crickets, maggots, worms).
Plant care : None.
Water care : 20% water change once a week.

Water Parameters: Water temperature : 29 °C
CHEMICAL PARAMETERS
pH : 5
Conductivity : 644
GH : –
KH : –
Dissolved Oxygen : 50 %

Additional Info: 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.

GPS : -1.5313179, 102.7199020

Aquarium video:

Description of the Area Surrounding the Biotope: 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.

Description of the Underwater Landscape of the Biotope: Aquarium decoration : Roots, wood, leaf, twigs, and sand.

WATER INFORMATION
Water type : Brackish water
Water color : Black water
Water transparency : Medium
Concentration of sediments : Medium
Water temperature : 29 °C
Water flow/curent : Slow

Description of the Habitat Parameters: Water temperature : 29 °C
CHEMICAL PARAMETERS
pH : 5
Dissolved Oxygen : 50 %

List of Fishes and Invertebrates Occurring in the Nature Biotope: Channa Melasoma, Trichogaster trichopterus, Trichopsis vittata, Anabas testudineus, Palaemonetes sp, Channa Striata and Channa Limbata.

List of Plants Found in the Nature Biotope: none

Threats to the Ecology of the Biotope: Currently in Jambi Indonesia is very advanced, there are many industrial places, so it invites many people to work and finally many swamps are made into housing. Very threatening the habitat of fauna and flora there, especially the fish that live in the swamp.

It’s a shame, especially in this place where Channa Melasoma lives, whose existence is very rare in Indonesia and even in the world.
Hopefully with this biotope event, I, as the participant who brought the Jambi theme, can provide education to the wider community, especially Indonesia and generally the world, that exotic fish are paradise and steps like Channa melasoma. So that people can maintain the habitat of the fish that are there and should be proud of the existence of Channa melasoma fish in their place, Jambi Indonesia.

Sources of Information:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_snakehead
2. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Channa-melasoma.html
3. https://marulioides.com/channa-melasoma/
4. (PDF) Jenis-jenis ikan marga Channa di Indonesia (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ernawati-Sinaga-2/publication/342814403_Jenis-jenis_ikan_marga_Channa_di_Indonesia/links/5f071c654585155050984b1a/Jenis-jenis-ikan-marga-Channa-di-Indonesia.pdf)
5. https://www.mongabay.co.id/2016/05/29/ikan-ikan-air-tawar-jambi-inipun-terancam-punah/
6. https://jambi.tribunnews.com/2014/02/19/jambi-punya-297-spesies-ikan
7. (PDF)http://iktiologi-indonesia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/09.-Syarifah-Nurdawati.pdf
8.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN5J7XMWGC4
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wif1cfsTuGA