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Look a little pugnacious? Pike cichlids like to fight with their own
kind (and other kinds).
Origin.
Pike cichlids hail from South America. Over 60 different species
fall under the genus Crenicichla.
If you want to ascertain your exact species, lots of luck.
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Different species of pike cichlids sport different colors and looks.
LA
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Foot-long pike cichlids always look better than the little guys. Not many metal
frame tanks left.
Appeal.
Pike cichlids look great. Their
colors and torpedo body shape look attractive.
However, most people keep them because they like to watch these
gluttons eat.
Dwarf green pike cichlids cost about three times as much regulars.
Ditto the oranges.
LA
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Almost two-inch orange pike -- nearly invisible in this four-inch flower pot.
Size.
Most adults can exceed a foot in length.
Many do not grow this large because they kill each other first.
The orange pikes and the green pikes top out at half this size.
You can even keep them with other fishes too large to swallow.
They live longest when kept as individual specimens.
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Regular pike cichlids sell reasonably priced at 3.5 inches.
LA
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Same dude with breakfast still in his mouth.
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Even the big pike cichlids like to hide. Climbing perch to the left.
Also a toughie.
Living
Quarters. Avoid bare tanks. Lack
of hiding places puts a severe strain on these guys -- especially the
little guys.
Pikes want to lurk under ledges and wait for a bait-size fish to
swim past. If you do not
provide a cave, they will hide behind their filter tubes (obviously under
stress). Pike Cichlids do not
appreciate brightly lit tanks.
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You can also lower their water level to keep them from jumping.
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Two-inch pike of same species as above.
Jumpers.
Cover them at all times. Pike
cichlids jump out any time you leave the cover off their tank.
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At six inches, they cost much more. And eat more.
LA
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Same size. Different species. A little roughed up. He
beat up the guy below.
Decor Tip. Lean a piece
of slate against their front glass. They
slide right into this “cave” and stay visible at all times.
LA
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Pike cichlids do not mix well with other pike cichlids. This guy did
not make the cut. He died.
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Same fish next day (dead as a pickerel).
LA
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Little guys (3 inches) seem to get along. Big pike cichlids like to kill each
other.
Group
of Pikes?
Pike cichlids kept together usually kill each other.
If you decide to keep several, give them a large tank – like a 40
breeder with lots of hiding places.
Water.
Most South American cichlids put up with cruddy water conditions
– old, urine-colored water. Keep
your pike cichlids in cleaner water or kiss them goodbye.
P.S. Go over and change
the water on your Jack Dempseys right now.
They like clean water, too.
LA
Pic
Here's a three-inch pike getting along with a ropefish.
Tank
Mates.
You could say they’re not good mixers.
But you can keep pike cichlids with other large cichlids IF you keep them in a
larger tank. In a tank less
than 30 gallons, you’ll see too many fights over territory.
The loser often expires.
LA
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At one foot long, pike cichlids are not shy.
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The bigger they get, the less pike cichlids need to hide.
Disease.
Keep your pike cichlid in clean water
or you’ll have problems with all types of diseases brought on by or
aggravated by stress.
Foods.
Pike cichlids prefer live fish.
Feeder goldfishes work fine. Smaller
ones eat rosy reds, guppies, white clouds and black worms.
Obviously, you will not keep your pike cichlids in a standard community
tank. In addition to eating
any fish they can choke down, they will beat the crud out of many tank mates
too big to swallow.
More
Foods. Pike cichlids also
like earthworms and night crawlers. Most
quickly learn to eat many frozen foods.
Rather than eat flakes or pellets, most will starve themselves to
death.
Breeding.
No good info available on breeding at this time.
Your best bet lies in providing a large tank with lots of caves.
Males are larger and more colorful.
The babies are probably “glancers” like discus fry.
LA
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Most pike cichlids look on the mean side.
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This species of pike cichlids looks good at six inches.
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Looks much better at fourteen.
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Even this little two-inch pike cichlid looks good.
LA
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Much better looking out and about. Orange pikes cost more, lots
more.
LA
Even at two inches, they are predators.
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At 1.25 inches they still want to eat rosy reds.
LA
Same guy with a bellyful of California blackworms.
LA
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Pike cichlids look pretty good when not hiding.
LA
Some pike cichlids have to be forced out.
Last
Comments. Clean water is essential to pike cichlids.
Change large amounts weekly. LA.
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