Pike Cichlid

[Chad55]

I was just wondering how fast my Xingu 1 pikes should grow. They are eating frozen beef heart and cichlid crumbles. Any insight is appreciated.

[DeLgAdO]

peanut can help you with this, he's the pike expert

PAGING PEANUT_POWER!!

[Peanut_Power]

lol...geez man...don't call me an expert....gonna make peeps expect too much of me!! I'm still learning too! Goober...lol....

Aight, I'll try to answer ur question to the best of my ability. There are several factors that will determine the growth rate. Obviously, powerfeeding, larger tank space, and frequent water changes are gonna give yaz the fastest, most optimal growth rate. How big is ur xingu? when they are younger they seem to grow a little slower...at about 1/2" a month or so.....but around 4 to 5" they seem to explode, growing at almost an 1" a month. Its crazy. Mine went from 3" to 13" in 8 months.....I was powerfeeding them a wide variety of foods, and they were in a much larger tank, 125, with two water changes a week. I would suggest feeding it chopped up earth worms. you can get them from a bait shop or any fishing store. even walmart carries them in the sporting goods. Cut them into smaller pieces until the pikes are large enough to take it whole. Definately accelerate the growth rate. Also, cocktail shrimp is a great booster. Be careful with the beefheart though, as its not really a natural food, most fish don't ever get this in the wild....lol...and it is kinda fatty and high in protein. Pikes are able to handle it though cuz they are predators. Just feed it in moderation cuz it can really cloud the water and cause problems. Another food that i really like is I think Hikari Sinkin Carnivore Pellets. They are designed for predatory catfish...so they promote rapid growth. Great stuff. Soak them first though, so that they are fully expanded. It took me about two weeks to get my pikes on to it...but now they take it with gusto! Hope that helped man! BTW...u know ur xingu I isn't gonna look like the pretty, orange juv. when its an adult right? Females are gorgeous burgandy wine red to cherry red, while the males are a drab olive green...still attractive though! Just a heads up. And once they reach sub-adult...about 6 to 8" they are gonna seriously start gettin an attitude...be prepaired!

[DeLgAdO]

lol...geez man...don't call me an expert....gonna make peeps expect too much of me!! I'm still learning too! Goober...lol....

Aight, I'll try to answer ur question to the best of my ability. There are several factors that will determine the growth rate. Obviously, powerfeeding, larger tank space, and frequent water changes are gonna give yaz the fastest, most optimal growth rate. How big is ur xingu? when they are younger they seem to grow a little slower...at about 1/2" a month or so.....but around 4 to 5" they seem to explode, growing at almost an 1" a month. Its crazy. Mine went from 3" to 13" in 8 months.....I was powerfeeding them a wide variety of foods, and they were in a much larger tank, 125, with two water changes a week. I would suggest feeding it chopped up earth worms. you can get them from a bait shop or any fishing store. even walmart carries them in the sporting goods. Cut them into smaller pieces until the pikes are large enough to take it whole. Definately accelerate the growth rate. Also, cocktail shrimp is a great booster. Be careful with the beefheart though, as its not really a natural food, most fish don't ever get this in the wild....lol...and it is kinda fatty and high in protein. Pikes are able to handle it though cuz they are predators. Just feed it in moderation cuz it can really cloud the water and cause problems. Another food that i really like is I think Hikari Sinkin Carnivore Pellets. They are designed for predatory catfish...so they promote rapid growth. Great stuff. Soak them first though, so that they are fully expanded. It took me about two weeks to get my pikes on to it...but now they take it with gusto! Hope that helped man! BTW...u know ur xingu I isn't gonna look like the pretty, orange juv. when its an adult right? Females are gorgeous burgandy wine red to cherry red, while the males are a drab olive green...still attractive though! Just a heads up. And once they reach sub-adult...about 6 to 8" they are gonna seriously start gettin an attitude...be prepaired!

LOL! no expert eh?? lemme turn it down to pro :grinyes:

[Peanut_Power]

Just be careful cuz one day you are gonna get me in a sticky situation...lol....i still have enough guts to say i don't know though....:P.....

[Chad55]

Thanks for the reply. Yea I want to see the color change. I'm looking forward to it.

[Peanut_Power]

I just hope you gotta female....cuz their color change is the most dramatic and enjoyable to watch!! go from silverish orange to burgandy red! its tight!

[finsandfangs]

i bought a xingu 1 a little over a month ago and it has changed from about 2 inches and as big around as a pencil to easily 4 inches and about as big around as a sharpie marker! i feed him the same stuff peanut power said plus some feeder guppies about once a week.

[Chad55]

Does anybody have any pics of their Xingu 1 pikes? Thanks.

[Peanut_Power]

Good man...i give my pikes the occassional live foods like guppies, rosies, and glass shrimp..not bigg enough yet for much more. xingus are great pikes and if you guys don't shut up about them I'm gonna get the urge to get some more myself...lol....jk...spread the love! Love hearin about them! FishNFangs.....u feed the Hikari Sinkin Carnivore Pellets? THEY ARE PIMP!! lol..easiest way I know to beef them up and fill their bellies!

[Peanut_Power]

I wish i had taken pictures of my pair...:(...they were AWESOME!! Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures...sucks...cuz they were tight! Males was easily 14" and female was about 10"....beautiful was she!!

[finsandfangs]

the pellets are the only thing you said that i don't. i have been trying pellets and he just spits them out. he loves shrimp & cut worms. i have to cut the worms because if i don't, the worm hangs out of it's mouth and the other fish will latch on to it and smash each other around the tank. i have some pics of when i first bought the fish and will take some new pics tomorrow for compairison

[finsandfangs]

first day home

[Peanut_Power]

For sure man...for sure! I was surprised actually when my pikes started eatin pellets...i didn't even really have to try..they just started eating them on their own. Now they take Omega One pellets, the Super Veggie and Super Color...as well as the sinkin pellets...great stuff! I have to say though the cocktail shrimp and other meaty foods are the main stay of the diet. Can't wait till they get big enough to take on crayfish! :D My xingus got that large...it was PYSCHO!! how determined they were! Unrelenting...just hammered the heck outa it! I took off the pinchers first...lol...didn't wanna risk injuring my babies...man i miss them! Aunry buggas! They were the DOMINATE fish in my 125! My female jag and Oscar would go outa their way to avoid them....many times i had to clean up water on the floor from them freakin out cuz the pikes came to close...lol...

[finsandfangs]

mine is dominate too.... no other fish in the tank will chase him. when i first put him in there was a good 20 second lip locking session between him and my jag. the next day the jag had a large round chunk missing from his tail and he never messed with the pike again

[Peanut_Power]

awesome lookin little pikey!! Love it!! Great fishies indeed! More pictures!! :D

[finsandfangs]

some new pics

[Chad55]

Is the cocktail shrimp just the stuff that you buy at the grocery store?

[Peanut_Power]

Yuppers!! Tis great stuff! I buy salad shrimp cuz its a little smaller and easier to break up, but when they get bigger the cocktail shrimp will be much more practical!!