What fish can live with pike cichlids?

How many species of pike cichlids are there?

More specifically, it is one of the 93 recognized species of Pike Cichlid in the world. Due to their size, C. lenticulata are a member of the Lugubris group, which contains the biggest members of the genus. Pike Cichlids are found in tropical and subtropical rivers in South America.

Are pike cichlids hard to care for?

The Pike Cichlid is a moderately difficult to care for fish and is best kept by an experienced aquarist. Though it’s not an exceptionally large fish (only reaching about 7 inches or 18 cm), it is an aggressively predatory fish and will kill or eat any fish of a similar or smaller size than itself.

What fish can I put with a pike cichlid?

Some potential options include large Oscars, Parrot Cichlids, Peacock Bass, Lima Shovelnose Catfish, large Plecos, or Geophagus species. All these species could be wounded by a Pike Cichlid though, so keep an eye on the interactions between your fish.

What fish can live with cichlids in the same tank?

Found worldwide in freshwater environments, cichlids are a diverse family of fishes, but all of them are aggressive. Cichlid tanks are best limited to cichlids only, and only cichlids from the same continent should be housed together. A few species of catfish and plecostomus can get along with cichlids. African or American?

Is the pike cichlid the right fish for You?

This usually means caring for larger species with an aggressive temperament. The pike cichlid (Crenicichla lenticulata) definitely fits the bill. It is one of the largest species in the cichlid family and has a boisterous personality that allows it to stand up to larger fish.

What size tank does a pike cichlid need?

A good rule of thumb is that large fish need a lot of space, so a bigger tank is always better. The average adult Pike Cichlid size ranges from 4 inches (for the Dwarf Pike Cichlids) to 15 inches (for the larger species).

What is the difference between pike cichlids and Pike from Lake Malawi?

The pike cichlids are long and thin, but usually lack the intense coloration of fish from Lake Malawi. CAUTION: there are lots of exceptions. Is the fish blue? –> Many of the fish from Lake Malawi are blue. There are few cichlids from elsewhere that are really blue.

How do cichlids adapt to hard and alkaline water?

Dwarf pike cichlids can be adapted to hard and alkaline waters, but they prefer soft and acidic water since they have developed in such conditions. Hard and alkaline waters are for instance known to diminish the chances of spawning. As of now, Crenicichla compressiceps is the only species who have spawned in hard and alkaline water.

How do you care for a pike cichlid?

You can care for Pike Cichlids in much the same way as you do with other aggressive and carnivorous fish. Read on to learn more about what our experts recommend to provide your Pike Cichlids with a level of care that will help them live long and healthy lives. – Keep Pike Cichlids in Large Tanks

What are the different types of pike cichlids?

Popular Pike Cichlid Species. 1 – Striped Pike Cichlid. This cichlid is so named because of the striking dark stripe that runs from its nose and all the way up to its caudal fin. 2 – Venezuelan Pike Cichlid. 3 – Zebra Pike Cichlid. 4 – Red Pike Cichlids. 5 – African Pike Cichlid.

What do you feed a pike cichlid?

One of the easiest ways to keep your Pike Cichlid in top condition is to mimic the diet it would have enjoyed in the wild: live food. Include bloodworms and blackworms in their diet, plus a host of small feeder fish to satiate their hunting drive. You can also feed them brine shrimp and frozen krill.

Can you put a catfish with a cichlid?

Speedy Cats. Catfish are one fish type that can co-exist with cichlids. Like cichlids, catfish are extremely diverse. Choose South American catfish for a South American cichlid tank and African catfish for an African cichlid tank to avoid disease problems. Large, speedy, aggressive catfish can do well with cichlids, as can slower species that hide.

Why is it called a pike cichlid?

This cichlid is so named because of the striking dark stripe that runs from its nose and all the way up to its caudal fin. Aquarists that choose the Striped Pike Cichlid are often taken by their various colors, as some fish come in shades of rusty red, brown, and earthy green.

What do pike cichlids eat?

One of the easiest ways to keep your Pike Cichlid in top condition is to mimic the diet it would have enjoyed in the wild: live food. Include bloodworms and blackworms in their diet, plus a host of small feeder fish to satiate their hunting drive. You can also feed them brine shrimp and frozen krill. Don’t Forget the Vegetables!

Can pike cichlids eat silver dollars?

They grow to a length large enough that cichlids don’t bother them, and they are generally not too aggressive against other types of fish. Some species of plecos that you can consider for your community tank would be the Gold Nugget Plecos, Royal Plecos, and the Sailfin Plecos. Adult silver dollars are usually too big for most Pike Cichlids to eat.

What size tank does a cichlid fish need?

Pike Cichlid – Quick Aquarium Care Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate Size of fish – inches: 7.0 inches (17.78 cm) Minimum Tank Size: 30 gal (114 L) Temperament: Aggressive Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy Temperature: 73.0 to 82.0° F (22.8 to 27.8° C)

What should I Feed my pike cichlids?

When feeding mass produced feeder fish make sure to quarantine them for a week before feeding and treat for parasites. Never introduce water from feeder tank into the Pike Cichlid’s tank! Feed warm blooded mammal meats (e.g. red meat, beef heart, chicken, etc) only as an occasional treat.

How big do pike cichlids get?

The average adult Pike Cichlid size ranges from 4 inches (for the Dwarf Pike Cichlids) to 15 inches (for the larger species). A simple benchmark you can remember is that you can keep one Pike Cichlid in a tank with at least a 30-gallon capacity.

What kind of cichlids live in Lake Malawi?

Fish information on the Lake Malawi Cichlids known as the “Haps”, Haplochromis group habitats and cichlids tanks for free-swimming types of cichlids, including the Utaka. Fish information on Peacock Cichlids, Aulonocara types of cichlids from Lake Malawi, their habitats and keeping African cichlids tanks.

What kind of fish is a pike cichlid?

Pike Cichlids. Pike cichlids are a fascinating group of vigorous, predatory South American cichlids belonging to the genus Crenicichla. A majority of the species is found in the Amazon region where they inhabit rivers, streams, lakes and pools, but you can find pike cichlids over most of the South American continent.

What is a Malawi Peacock cichlid?

The male Malawi Peacock Cichlid shown in the picture just above was an example of a fish that was weak and needed special care. I took him out of one of the boxes of a shipment of fish from Lake Malawi.

What is the scientific name of the fish in Lake Malawi?

The scientific name of this fish is Cyrtocara moorii, which is closely related to Haplochromis. The Haps. and Peacock Cichlids discussed on this page are a large group of cichlid fish that live in Lake Malawi in East Africa.