peppermint crocodile fish a gar?

[haysanatar]

I wandered onto this fish they call a peppermint crocodile fish
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=830+1535+2779&pcatid=2779

and this one just called a crocodile fish
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=830+836+2778&pcatid=2778

they say they're only 6 inches long.
but the youtube vids I see of them appear a ton longer
I'm concidering getting one for my tank depending on its true size..
do they really only get 6 inches
they say a 30 gallon tank will hold him fine I'd stick him in a 55
thoughts feelings ideas anecdotes coupons free money?

 

[CTU2fan]

Wow never saw those before. Definitely not a gar but I can't really tell what it is...if it's a characin like the various rocket/mosaic/marbled/false gars you'd think it might do better in a group.

 

[JD7.62]

Not a characin either, rather an anabantoid related to bettas.They are better known as pikeheads. Cool fish that is relatively new in the hobby.

 

[channarox]

pikeheads.
im pretty sure theyre two different species.
theyre cool,but very demanding fish.

 

[haysanatar]

how demanding and will they rip fish into 95684730 parts when I feed them
I'm looking for a mini monster
any ideas?

 

[Datnoid101]

Giant pikeheads (Luciocephalus pulcher) Are really cool fish. They breathe air from the surface and lash out at food wildly. I keep mine in a 30g and feed white clouds. But as of recently he has been taking bloodworms.

 

[dr_sudz]

Dat seems to know what he is talking about! thats a cool fish! I bet they don't rip fish into pieces though, I would suspect that like a gar, it would try to work the fish whole into its stomach.
If you want a fish that rips fish into many pieces than go for some good looking puffers. They tend to bite their pray into smaller manageable bites.

 

[parasite paradise]

They're a labyrinth fish.

 

[channarox]

how demanding and will they rip fish into 95684730 parts when I feed them
I'm looking for a mini monster
any ideas?

they require live foods and acidic water.
they usually hover at one place but sometimes will thrash around the tank for no reason.
and once they hit the glass thats it...
they dont rip up prey.
they just suck theyre prey in pretty much like leaffish.

 

[haysanatar]

how long have you had the pikehead...