• As the snakehead is an energetic and sometimes aggressive fish, the Cantonese call it “生鱼”, which is made up of the words “生” (lively) and “鱼” (fish).
• The snakehead is a specialty fish in Southeast Asia. By the end of the 20th century, Singapore’s snakehead imports were mostly from Indonesia and Malaysia, with the rest from Thailand.
• The head of the snakehead is flat on the top and bottom, with large and distinct scales on top. Its mouth is wide and deep, and its eyes are small. As these features are similar to the head of a snake, the snakehead is also known in Mandarin as “蛇头鱼” (literally, “snakehead fish”). Moreover, the snakehead often pokes its head out of the water to breathe, and waits motionlessly for the opportunity to catch its prey, and is thus easily mistaken for a snake.
• The snakehead thrives in duckweed ponds. In the 1960s, snakeheads were commonly found in duckweed ponds across Singapore.

An internet rumour has it that a stew of snakehead and apples can help to remove eyebags. (Shin Min Daily News, 27/11/2019)

• Young snakeheads are gold in colour, while the adult females are greyish-brown. The male snakehead is smaller in size than the female but very aggressive.
• The meat of the snakehead is tender, juicy and springy, with no fishy odour. It is also rich in protein. Snakeheads can be steamed whole, and in Singapore one also commonly finds stirfried snakehead slices and snakehead fish head bee hoon.
• The Chinese believe that the snakehead has medicinal benefits and should be eaten while recovering from surgery or childbirth.