Oscars mixed with pike cichlids

[duanes]

As you can see by the responses, there is no general rule. But if your Oscar has been in the tank a while and is territorial, it may not accept anything you put in with it. It sometimes work when all fish grow up together from a young age, but when they are adults, it is always a gamble with any cichlids. Make sure the pike you get comes from/accepts the samewater conditions, there are some pike species that come from temperate S America and appreciate cooler temps, or a cold seasonal change.

 

[AQUAMONSTER]

pikes are very aggressive and sometimes its to certain fish. My pike never bothered my covnvict but always wanted to fight 9 inch jd and once i watched them lip lock and the pike flipped the jack upside down liek it was nothing

 

[smitty03281964]

I say give it a try.

 

[iHonesty]

As you can see by the responses, there is no general rule. But if your Oscar has been in the tank a while and is territorial, it may not accept anything you put in with it. It sometimes work when all fish grow up together from a young age, but when they are adults, it is always a gamble with any cichlids. Make sure the pike you get comes from/accepts the samewater conditions, there are some pike species that come from temperate S America and appreciate cooler temps, or a cold seasonal change.

I agree with this. I don't think I'll be able to put the pike in with my aged oscar. I think my situation would work best when oth are raised together their whole lives. So that's the route I my take instead. In that case, I hope pikes grow fast cause oscar growth from my experience is pretty intense. I will give it a shot with a species I will decide upon by the end of the week. haha everybody keep an eye out for "my oscar and pike cichlid murdered each other in the night" thread..

 

[JacobWhitley]

if you like snakeheads you should get a wolf fish i love mine

 

[iHonesty]

if you like snakeheads you should get a wolf fish i love mine

I like wolf fish... but from seeing them around and researching them, they aren't as active a fish as I am looking for. I've also found that the wolffish are really hard to keep from live feeders, but the live feeders are the only thing to make them move in the beginning! there just isn't any replacement for a snakehead. I wanted channa marulioides, the emperor snakehead soooooo bad. but until the DNR get smart enough to realize that the fish can't survive in ALL waters of this country....I'm in a losing game. lol

 

[shamrock]

IMO depends on size of your tank and individual temperment. I have had Oscars that would get pushed around by Bettas. Then Ive had Oscars that went toe to toe with my female Dovii. As far as Pike you could get a Saxatilis Pike which reaches 10-12 inches and isnt as aggressive as a Venny Pike.
But in all honesty Ive never had a Pike that was overly aggressive. They always held their ground but never harrassed or killed any of their tankmates. So if your tank is around 100-125 gallons you will be fine. Pikes are more bottom fish where as Oscars hang on the top waiting for you to feed them.

 

[bryan.olsen]

I had a 14“ pike in a 240 with my old O and didn't have much of any problems. Pike like caves and driftwood coverage where oscars will claim a flat rock in an open space. Give them the room and a place to make their own and observe... I didn't have any issues. Both of my fish are definite males and were adults before introduced as I suspect that juvies are more volatile