Can/will pikes hybridize?

[Conner]

I'm just wondering, because I recently moved all my pikes to a 125g tank from a 55g. Now, the most dominant male, a lepidota, and the dominant female, an alta, have been spending a lot of time together, and just last night started digging pits in the sand together. They've also become very territorial towards the rest of the fish in the tank, but especially the other pikes. They have 2 different pits, and seem to alternate between which one they hang out in.

SO am I likely to see eggs soon? And will they be fertile if I do see them?

I'll try to get pics soon...

 

[BigPic]

They need a cave. Please don't let this happen. . . Pikes are tough enough to ID without tossing hybrids into the equation!

 

[Conner]

They need a cave. Please don't let this happen. . . Pikes are tough enough to ID without tossing hybrids into the equation!

I'm not trying to let it happen, it just kind of did. There's one piece of pvc pipe as a cave in there, but the male can barely fit in it by himself, let alone with the female.

The alta male is apparently a pushover when it comes to his girl . But the lepidota is turning into a brute of a pike, very large, flashy, and definitely a pushy personality. The only fish that will attempt to stand up to him (other than the alta female) is a new festae that I have, and even then its more of a draw...

I'm pretty sure that even if they do spawn, none of the fry would survive in this tank. And if they do spawn, I may decide to move the male lepidota over to another tank for a while, give the alta's a chance to establish a bond.

 

[BigPic]

Thanks, I was hoping you would say that, but, I needed to say it anyhow. . . If she is courting the wrong male, odds are that she will never pair with the one you want her to, I have tried TONS of times with Sveni, once a female makes her choice, it's tough to get em to swap. It never seems to fail that the female picks the male that isn't the one that we think is "better" LOL

 

[Conner]

Thanks, I was hoping you would say that, but, I needed to say it anyhow. . . If she is courting the wrong male, odds are that she will never pair with the one you want her to, I have tried TONS of times with Sveni, once a female makes her choice, it's tough to get em to swap. It never seems to fail that the female picks the male that isn't the one that we think is "better" LOL

I could always move the two alta's back to the 55g. Its currently a turtle tank, but they should be able to coexist together, right?

Otherwise, I just won't worry about it for now. Or like I said, I could toss the male lepidota in the gar tank. There's a big (probably male) venezuelan in there he could punk with .

 

[BigPic]

HAHAHA the joy of mixing pikes! Either way, have fun with it, Sax type pikes are generally GREAT parents. . . IME