Pike cichlids (Crenicichla)... any pike fans?

[Ryan]

I've only got one tank of discus these days. Most of my attention has been dedicated to other South American oddball cichlids. One of my favorite new groups are the pikes -- Crenicichla. I've got dwarfs at 3" and C. lenticulata at over 12". They're a diverse group of all sizes and colors, but they all definitely have attitude!

Crenicichla lenticulata, aka Lents

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/ryansmith83/9a9a12f3.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/ryansmith83/ae22d53a.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/ryansmith83/4a2bc64d.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/ryansmith83/e39cca72.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/ryansmith83/62100cb9.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/ryansmith83/fa3ef75a.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/ryansmith83/140e4337.jpg

Crenicichla saxatilis

I need to get better pictures of this guy. This is when he was in quarantine and he was pretty washed out. Now he has bright red eyes, a bright red trim in his dorsal and tail, and amazing gold spangling all over his body.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/ryansmith83/89abc6ce.jpg

Crenicichla regani

Regani are dwarf pikes who only get to a max of 5 or 6". They tend to stay a bit smaller, though. This is my male when he was about 3" but he's probably over 4" now. I need to get pictures of him with his dorsal extended; he's a really handsome little fish. Also very inquisitive and smart for such a tiny thing.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/ryansmith83/2d890fc7.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j49/ryansmith83/5f27b628.jpg

Any other pike keepers out there?

[Eddie]

Wow, very impressive fish Ryan! They grew into some very attractive looking specimens. Great work!

Eddie


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[retiredsailor]

pretty fish... so jealous ever time i see posts like this. can't wait until i can set my tanks up again.

ian

[zinfin]

You can keep the Regani with Discus, yes?

[Ryan]

You can keep the Regani with Discus, yes?

It's a bit tricky because of the individual personalities and the tendency of pikes to be aggressive. If you have a large enough tank and enough hiding places, they would probably be okay. My regani are in with much larger cichlids (8" severums, 6" Geophagus, etc.) but they still come out and chase the bigger fish occasionally if they get too close to their territory. Mine also tend to nip fins of other fish that swim by.

I doubt a regani would do much damage to a discus, but they could make the discus skittish depending on how often they pick at them or chase them.

[jball1125]

Nice fish Ryan. More pics please.

[Discus-n00b]

Very nice. I keep my Regani with discus, 0 problems so far. I haven't however, gotten my regani to get the color yours has, and the male won't leave the female alone, he's always chasing her and backing her into corners. They just don't seem to get along. I wish they would just pair up, maybe I need more to create a new pair. If I had the space I'd get the bigger species, I've always loved them.

[buznoz]

Kept pike a long time ago. Today there are a lot more different varieties. If only I had the tank space, or the desire to add more.

[moon_knight1971]

Very cool fish! Definitely don't see any of those fish very often!

[illumnae]

I currently keep a trio of juvenile Crenicichla sp. "Atabapo II" with my discus. They're definitely fish that are full of character and very fiesty!