a few of my smaller pikes

[fish speaker]

Here are a few pics from last night, of some of my favorite little fish:

Female Crenicichla menezesi (larger of the two females in the tank). Flash really washes out her colors...she also has a few spangles, although nothing like the males.

Same fish, no flash, in an attempt to show what color she really has. Photographing THIS fish without flash is an exercise in futility!

One of the males, displaying advanced survival technique. The big female is substantially larger than the males, and is a little bit aggressive.

Different male, with less skill.

Smallest of the orange dwarf pikes, still in juvie coloration. I got these from Ken Davis, with no ID beyond "orange dwarf pikes". They strongly resemble Crenicichla sp. "Xingu I" except in size. They are growing larger than I would expect with a true dwarf species, but are much smaller than I would expect for Xingu I.

Largest male orange dwarf pike...and water spots on glass.

Family portrait. Tail of the big male is on the left. Dirty section of glass...this tank is at floor level and this is where the cats try to catch the pikes, pawing at the glass.

 

[Peanut_Power]

Loverly!! Love the menezesi, bummer about that male with no skills though!! Haha. Them 'dwarf' sp. 'xingu I' are lookin very similar indeed. Interesting it is...

 

[X24]

CURSE you for hoarding all the menezesi!

 

[Taz2478]

I can def agree on the growth of the "supposed" dwarf orange. Mine still hasnt changed.

 

[fish speaker]

CURSE you for hoarding all the menezesi!

2 females in the group...and 2 of the males are looking good, with no damage. So...if I end up with 2 pairs, you'll be the first to know.

 

[Peanut_Power]

Thats what I am talkin about!! Helping each other out is the way to go!!

 

[X24]

sweet! i'll have to clear tank space or *gulp* get another tank......

 

[Peanut_Power]

Later would be smarter than the former!!

 

[Scatocephalus]

I also picked up some of the Orange Dwarf Pikes from Ken. Once they hit 8" I decided they weren't so dwarf and traded them into the local fish store...

I think they may have a tendency to stay small because we are told they are dwarf so we keep them in smaller tanks and crowded conditions.

 

[fish speaker]

Good point about the housing. I've got mine in a 4' tank, but it's volume is only 33 gallons. One of our local club members has a pair in a 10 (!) because he was expecting dwarfs, and his are noticeably smaller than mine. Another member has his in a 75, since his are growing like mine. Mine will get an upgrade soon, just because the tank they are in can't handle the bioload...I have doubled-up on water changes to keep it from being an issue.

Do you think they're just the Xingu I, or a smaller, but not dwarf, pike?