Crenicichla Sp Cobra

[driftwood]

Anyone keep these guys? I'm getting some form Rapps this week and i really can't find much info on them. Are they as aggressive as a Xingu species?

[Peanut_Power]

Envious of you I am....these are GREAT pikes! They were just a little too pricey for me. Congrats on gettin them! Unfortunately, this in NOT a pike species I have kept, which really breaks my heart cuz they are up there on my wish list, if only they were a bit cheaper. They are a fairly rare pike species, adults look awesome! Specially the females...great colors! I personally like the look of the juv. and subadults...crazy kewl. I'm gonna guess that they are a lot like xingus since they have more of that apperance in body shape. Expect them to get gradually more aggressive and territorial as they get older....to what extent the get aggressiveness is gonna get is a toughy...since pikes don't really fall a typical pattern. Seem to like to defy it on a regular basis. It shall be a learnin experience for yaz. Member that they have large mouths and a huge stomach...lol...and that they aren't afraid of pickin fights. Best of luck...love to see pictures! :D

[driftwood]

hey peanut i knew you'd respond to my post man. Yeah i was only able to get 2 because someone bought the 3rd one that Rapps had. I'm starting them out in a 90 gallon tank with lots of hiding places. I don't know why i think this but i feel like i'm going to get a pair, we'll see i quess lol. Any tankmate recommendations? I'll probably just leave them in the tank alone unless i can think of something to add. They are pretty expensive but i figured they are probably going to be my only pikes so i wanted something really cool and kind of rare. I originally had planned on gettng the xingu 111 but George sold them to steve right after he told me he still had them.

[Peanut_Power]

"They are pretty expensive but i figured they are probably going to be my only pikes so i wanted something really cool and kind of rare. "

Only pikes ur gonna own! LOL! RIIIIIIIIIIGHT!! Ur gonna get hooked bro and the fever is gonna run thru your blood.

[driftwood]

well i got them in the tank and they are really cool lookin fish. I'll try to get some pics posted but right now they are hiding so i guess i'll have to wait. I'm trying to figure out a dither fish that will keep these guys busy. What do you think of 3 silver dollars?

[Peanut_Power]

since they are so small you could go with pretty much anything...silver dollars will last long term. if you don't really care if they eat it or not go with some Black Skirts and Serpae tetras. Pretty and they add motion makin them comfy. From my experiences though, pikes don't need dithers...lol...they are pretty bold fishies! once they learn where the food comes from they will always be out lookin for it...specially when you are around.... :D VERY ACTIVE FISHIES!! If they are always hiding sumptin is wrong.

[driftwood]

they aren't hiding anymore! These little guys are spunky. I fed them brine shrimp tonight and they ate like pigs. i absolutely love these little ones. got some pretty bold colors going on even at this size.

[Peanut_Power]

Sweetness my man!! See! Told cha...pikes don't need dithers!! LOL!! If you want them to grow faster try feedin them mysis...and then get them onto cocktail shrimp asap. They will grab ur heart and make yaz crave more! Trust me! Ur hooked now bro!

[driftwood]

what do you mean by cocktail shrimp?

[Peanut_Power]

Cocktail shrimp...ummm...go to a Super Market and in the freezer section there should be cocktail shrimp or salad shrimp in a bag. Be sure you remove the shell if there is one. U can also get it fresh at the deli. Am i makin sense?

[driftwood]

yes u're making perfect sense. I thought thats what you were talking about but just wanted to make sure. Now i'll go out this weekend and get some shrimp and these guys can have a happy hour. i'm not planning on giving them live fish. i know lots of people do but i'm just not going to go down that road.

[jelly]

I am envious of you. I have been after a pair of them for some years now.

[driftwood]

i'm not sure if i have a pair yet. Time will tell though. I've been keeping fish for years and i'm willing to bet i have a pair. Although they are about the same size they look different and 1 has a lot more freckles than the other. they are happy as clams at the moment. If i don't have a pair i hope i have 2 females and not 2 males. i really wish i could have gotten more but Jeff only had 2 left.

[Peanut_Power]

*grumbles*....I had a REALLLY long response to this and it didn't send! Bugga it all! Aight, I shalt try again!

Aight, one thing you gotta learn about pikes bro is nothing is absolute. Crenicichla from the Lugubris complex are different from the pikes in the Saxatilis complex in the fact that as juv. Lugubris pikes will actually school/shoal together to a certain extent to avoid predation and various other benefits. Once they hit subadult though, they start breakin off to go and find their own mates and what not. That is when the aggression is really gonna get crazy. For instance my three 'mystery' pikes haven't hit subadult yet, far from it....lol...but there is already a level of dominance that is clearly visible. Once these guys hit subadult they are gonna pick on each other, and if they pair up, I'm gonna have a lone pike that is gonna get whomped on constantly. Even with three pikes my chances of gettin a pair is pretty slim, but I've nonetheless got my fingers crossed. Unfortunately for you, ur chances are 50/50. I will be very surprised if you do manage to get a pair outa them. It'll take a lotta luck, but it is possible. For instance I was able to get a pair outa my two xingus...that was SUPER lucky though! So its not entirely impossible. I hope you get females too by the way if they are the same sex...lol...better lookin. Perhaps I can even talk yaz into trading one for one of my extra pikes! By then i will know what they are! :D!! And if I'm gonna get a pair outa them i will have one! :D

[Peanut_Power]

Updates DW!!! I am trying to work out a deal with my LFS to get in some marms, cobras, strigata, and redfaced lugubris from rapps...hehe...gonna put my pike collection into over drive! :D

[driftwood]

i tried to take some pics tonight but the little f**kers won't hold still. Anyway the 1 has started going through a really cool color change. Getting more spangles and a sort of popped belly. Gettin more aggressive too. still hasn't gotten to aggressive with the other cobra. Jeff has more but i think i'll just wait this one out and see what i've got. I mean whats the point of gettin more when i'm not sure what i've got here. Still think i have a pair though. I gave them the shrimp last night for the first time and the larger pike ate so much it freaked me out. I thought the fish was going to burst. its fine today though. I'll try to take pics over the weekend. i have a buddy thats really good with the camera. maybe he can take some good pics.

You should try some H. Pearsi. One of the coolest fish man. just a recommendation.

[driftwood]

Hey Peanut i've been trying to come up with a tank mate for these guys and i was wondering what you think of a Geophagus Brassilenisis? i know they are way more aggressive than your average geo and the water chemisty should work well too. what do you think?

[Peanut_Power]

Might work...i've got Satanoperca jurupari in with my pikes right now...it all depends on the pike really. Some times pikes will pike on a fish, other times they will just leave them completely alone. Ya never know till you try. Guatopes aren't a great choice though...lol...cuz pikes love pickin a fight and hardly ever back down from one...so yeah, could get nasty. My xingu III would drag my jag around the tank...and seriously despised my oscar. But yeah. Give it a go bro....u'd be surprised what works. Just make sure the Geos are LARGER than the pikes.......height wise.....if it can even remotely fit in their mouth there will be trouble.... ;)

Hey, is that a H. pearsi in your avatar? Cuz I think i saw one at a LFS today...it was bout 8" or so...kewl lookin fish...never seen one before..tempted by it..but those rows of teeth look kinda intimidating...lol. BTW....I got offered a job at that LFS too! WOOT! haha!!

[IoStrisciare]

P.Power,

U have any pics of an adult male cobra pike?

I have a 5 incher which i suspect maybe a male...

heard the coloration isn;t as good as the female.

[Peanut_Power]

ID ask DragonBallz about that.....he actually has some cobras...dunno if they are adults yet..but he could get'cha some nice pictures. There are pictures on the net...but not enough good ones...i mostly see females. Ur not gonna be able to sex it anyway till its passed the subadult stage really....any sooner than that and its not really accurate...that isn't till about 7 or 8" though. Main thing to look for is a white stripe in the dorsla fin......this is a clear indicator that its a female... ;).

[IoStrisciare]

Main thing to look for is a white stripe in the dorsla fin......this is a clear indicator that its a female... ;).

U mean at the last rear third of the dorsal?

[SteveL91]

Yes. It seems to start there (and in some species, the white band extends into the caudal fin as well) and progressively develops through the whole dorsal fin as the fish grows.

[driftwood]

Might work...i've got Satanoperca jurupari in with my pikes right now...it all depends on the pike really. Some times pikes will pike on a fish, other times they will just leave them completely alone. Ya never know till you try. Guatopes aren't a great choice though...lol...cuz pikes love pickin a fight and hardly ever back down from one...so yeah, could get nasty. My xingu III would drag my jag around the tank...and seriously despised my oscar. But yeah. Give it a go bro....u'd be surprised what works. Just make sure the Geos are LARGER than the pikes.......height wise.....if it can even remotely fit in their mouth there will be trouble.... ;)

Hey, is that a H. pearsi in your avatar? Cuz I think i saw one at a LFS today...it was bout 8" or so...kewl lookin fish...never seen one before..tempted by it..but those rows of teeth look kinda intimidating...lol. BTW....I got offered a job at that LFS too! WOOT! haha!!

If its a H. Pearsi its a big pussy cat and you should get it. If you love your pissitcus you'll love the Pearsi. Pearsi are relatively mellow laid back fish and they are always changing. Very cool fish. they do get big though.

[Peanut_Power]

I dunno thought if its a pearsi!! LoL it has the verticle bands.....and reminds me of the fish in your avatar...but just my luck its some killer...lol

[unknownuza13]

you shouldn't buy salad shrimp or coctail shrimp since they are already cooked. Buy raw market shrimp from the frozen seafood section.

[Loubard]

I'm loving the markings on these Crenicichla spec. Cobra Pike:

http://www.amazon-exotic-import.de/Gallerie/Cichliden/Bilder/Crenicichla%20spec.%20Cobra%20Pike.jpg

[unknownuza13]

wholly crap.. definately the hottest pike cichlid I have ever seen. Do you know if this is a male or female?

[Peanut_Power]

Won't know till its an adult or the final stages of subadult. Thats a subadult coloration, pretty much standard 'cobra' sudadult coloration...;). Very kewl pikes...the adults are rocket red...at least the female is...dunno about the male for sure....only seen females that i know of. Heres a picture of a very nice adult female from Rapps....you can see the white tipped dorsal...;)...as you can see...it doesn't have white in the caudual fin, so you can't use this trait as a clear identifier for all Lugubris pikes. The white in the dorsal is present in almost all of the Lugubris pikes though so its a more accurate way to tell them apart from males......and the pink/red abdomen/stomach...;)

[unknownuza13]

I think I like the sub-adult colors better even though I like the adult colors as well.. Both of them are real tight.

[DanDanUK]

I'm loving the markings on these Crenicichla spec. Cobra Pike:

http://www.amazon-exotic-import.de/Gallerie/Cichliden/Bilder/Crenicichla%20spec.%20Cobra%20Pike.jpg

Wow thats an impressive looking fish i ain't eva seen one of them thanks for sharing !

[Loubard]

No probs Dan!

[Peanut_Power]

Remember that thats an subadult....;)...be kinda kewl if they stayed like that though...thus my search for Crenicichla tigrina continues...:P

[Taz2478]

I just got 2 orange pikes and the cobras supposed to be in next week. hope they dont cost as much as the internet prices.

What about tiger pikes, they kind of a plain silver color?

[Peanut_Power]

Tiger pikes? Sorry man....I go by scientific names.....common names are used so liberaly that its hard to know what ur talkin about. Cobras are gonna cost yaz AT LEAST $40 a pop...thats the cheapest I've heard them going for yet....lol....i got mine from Anthony for $50 a pop...which was super steal! :D

[Taz2478]

how big @ that price?

[Peanut_Power]

They are about 4.5 to 5.5" range I believe....which makes them even more of a steal.....;)

[driftwood]

my cobra pikes were $75 a pop so 50 is a steal

[Taz2478]

the tiger pike online ive found,Tigrina (http://www.jjphoto.dk/fish_archive/aquarium/crenicichla_tigrina.htm) but doesnt look like whats at the store.

looked more like
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=2/medium/02FEB2005_tigers_014.jpg

and they selling for $25 @ about 4-5"

[driftwood]

are you taling about the xingu 1? that sounds about right. oops! sorry i just clicked on the pic. thats a nice pike.

[Caveman]

Thats not even a Cichlid. The Pike you are talking about is probally the African Pike, Hepsetus odoe which is a Characin.

[driftwood]

he's talking about the tigrina and i've never heard of that one.

[Loubard]

Are Crenicichla tigrina like this:
http://www.akvarieforum.no/images/fish/crenicichla_tigrina_01.jpg

They look good!

[Peanut_Power]

Taz, that Crenicichla you linked to is what i thought you might be talkin about....Crenicichla cincta...they are sometimes refered to as Tiger pikes. $25 is a GOOD price for these guys, specially at that size. They DO get large, LARGE! And sometimes need a tank just for a pair, cuz they can be very aggressive. Gorgeous pikes though...the Crenicichla tigrina I am talkin about is this one:

[Taz2478]

If they still have some I'll take a pic.

I already bought 2 xingu I (Orange Pike). was $12ea for about 4-5" good? Prices are up here on some fish cause of the storm. went to get some clown loaches and they were $9ea, they were only $6 before.

not much money right now to do a online order and get all at once.

[Peanut_Power]

Yeah, thats a good price for xingu I, i would grab some more though, so they don't tear each other up when they hit subadult. xingu I are aunry for pikes though, keep that in mind. Xingu I, cincta, and venezuela are some of the most aggressive pikes out there...;)