വരാലും കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങളും | Life Cycle Story of Snakehead Fish and parenting.

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How fishes take care of their babies

“Varal" is a freshwater fish that is very common in our country. It is also known as "Kannan", "Brawl" and by various local names in different places. It is known in English as the Snake Headfish as it resembles the shape of a snake.

The breeding season of 'Kannan" fish is from June to July and August. They rarely breed in perennial ponds during summers. They lay their eggs at the beginning of the monsoon season when the ponds are overflowing by regular rain. The number of juveniles depends on the size and weight of the mother fish. A full-grown "varal" weighs a maximum of 3 kg.

The fish have the potential to produce 10,000 to 60,000 juveniles in a single breed. "Varal" is a highly resistant fish. Small fishes, worms and frogs are the favorite food of these fishes. They do not normally eat other foods. If there are small fish in a pond, it is common that "varal" will feed them all. Varal is one of the most abundant fish species in the Asian continent.

Due to scarcity of fields, excessive use of pesticides and illegal fishing, the availability of these have been declining drastically in the past. As like others climate change has adversely affected these organisms. When it rains heavily at the beginning of the monsoon season, with their thousands of eggs they quickly travel from rivers and streams to ponds and waterlogged areas.

However, the widespread catching of fish during this time by the spreading of nets is accelerating their extinction. No one pays much attention to the sad fact that at this time, about twenty five thousand to fifty thousand juveniles are killed by a single hunt. They lay their eggs in the shallows of the ponds between dry stalks and grasses. The eggs of the fish float on the surface of the water like white spots. These hatch between 24 and 54 hours after laying. These are extremely careful not to get caught in the eyes of enemies and run away in the flowing water. In the early days, hatchlings can be seen as black mosquito larvae.

These are then transformed into beautiful red colour. It is a delight to see thousands of golden juveniles swimming in and out of the crystal clear waters. The caring of male fish and the female fish for their young are very interesting and amazing sights. The female walks along the side of the juveniles. It will always be with the babies with extraordinary strength so that the babies do not get lost through the small canals flowing out of the pond.

The male will be guarding their surroundings. It will face all the creatures that come close to the mother fish and the babies without any fear.

They do not allow any carps fish, frogs and other large fish in the pond to come to them that threatens the life of their baby. At this point, when someone tries to catch these, the male will bite the prey, believing it to be its enemy, resulting in lose of its life. Which will make it difficult for the female to look after the young and their breeding habitat will be in jeopardy. In the grief of losing the mate and with the difficult of controlling the juveniles, the females tends to move to another place.

Thousands of helpless and innocent juveniles are easily hunted and eaten by other fishes.

For these reasons the Government warns us not to fish during monsoons. This is the condition of all fishes. As soon as the eggs hatch, they hatch into larvae, which feed on body fat of the mother. Then they grow slowly by eating very small aquatic creatures such as algae and earthworms . As babies grow older, the redness on their bodies disappears. When they are large fish, they eat only living things.

Thus the mother fish does not look at them. The juveniles live in swimming in water of their choice and have the ability to jump and swim up to a height of one meter. They have a wide mouth and sharp small teeth, capable of swallowing large prey with ease. The body of a fully grown "Varal" is black and the underside is white. This fish can live in any kind of deep water. There are large Varals that lay their eggs three to four times a year. Scientists have identified 29 species of Varal fish in various parts of the world. It is said to have the ability to travel by land for three days in humid climates.

Varal is characterized by the ability to overcome any adverse conditions. In addition to receiving oxygen from the atmosphere, they also breathe from the oxygen in the water.

Fish farmers do not need to ventilate artificially as they have a special ability to absorb oxygen from the atmosphere. In addition, it can withstand temperatures of 14 to 40 degrees. It also has the potential to withstand water, soil and salt fluctuations.

Studies show that in countries like Thailand, it has the ability to survive up to six months in the mud when the ponds dry up. Due to its good meat content, low cholesterol content, low thorn content and high nutritional value, it has become a highly marketable fish.