Fire pike chiclid question

[monsterK]

Although the difference between a pH of 7.0 and 7.5 doesn't sound like much, each 10th on the pH represents 10 times.
So a pH of 7.5 is 50 times more basic than the neutral pH of 7.
A river like Rio Atabapo with a pH of 6, is 100 times more acidic that water at pH 7.
Because the Rio Atabapo pikes in the hobby, are not far removed from the wild, they may not have the ability to handle higher pH values, without falling ill to diseases like HITH.
As mentioned above, you may be better off getting something smaller from the genus Crenicichla saxitillis group that may be more tolerant of higher pH situations, and be a better fit in a 135 gal tank.
I was able to keep some wild caught Crenicichla saxatillus species from Uruguay in my pH 7.8 , harder water, a number of years back, in tanks of only 150 gallons.
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Those are still beautiful pike. I will not go the fire pike route then, thats why I asked these questions im not going too put those pike through that if I can't guarantee perfect conditions for them.. I will look into those pike you mentioned. As for the Crenicichla saxitillis, I would get a pair of two and do you suggest any tank mates with them or only them two??
And does the same principles for tannins apply for them also?

 

[duanes]

I started with half dozen juvies, and let them choose mates.
I also kept Crenicichlia sp "belly crawler", picked up a bag of 10 at one of the Greater Chicago Cichlid Assn auctions.
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They also grew into some great looking pikes over time.

I try to use very dissimilar shaped cichlids as tank mates to minimize aggression.
Below the Uruguayan pikes, in a biotope tank with other dissimilar shaped cichlids.

 

[monsterK]

I started with half dozen juvies, and let them choose mates.
I also kept Crenicichlia sp "belly crawler", picked up a bag of 10 at one of the Greater Chicago Cichlid Assn auctions.
View attachment 1531714.
They also grew into some great looking pikes over time.
View attachment 1531715View attachment 1531716
I try to use very dissimilar shaped cichlids as tank mates to minimize aggression.
Below the Uruguayan pikes, in a biotope tank with other dissimilar shaped cichlids.
View attachment 1531717View attachment 1531718

Awesome, now maybe a stupid question. As for pairing what's an easy way too tell when 2 of them pair? Are they just always together or are the signs too look for?.. I'll have to get a bunch like you did let 2 pair and rehome the rest.
That's a beautiful orange/black chiclid what is that in the 4th picture!

 

[duanes]

They start hanging out together, in a certain area of the tank, and keeping other fish away.
The orange and black one, is Australoheros sp. Ref Ceibal.

Male left, female right.
When they get into the spawning mode, they go through a dramatic color change.

Once fry are independant, they go back to prespawning colors.
They can tolerate a wide range of temps from as low as 50'F to highs in the 80sF
I kept them in a pond, and in outside tanks spring thru fall when I lived in Milwaukee, where they spawned, and produced many fry.

 

[monsterK]

Such beautiful fish you have im so jealous!
So would this work.. if I did 6 Crenicichla saxitillis to start and find 2 pairs then rehome the rest? Then also a pair of Australoheros sp. Ref Ceiba. Should I just keep it that? I don't wanna over stock to much.. would plecos work with them