Confusing identification

[Titania]

After the loss of my big Johanna girls last winter due to a heater malfunction, I just picked up two nice little juvie pikes.

They were labeled as "Orange Orinoco Pikes", which we all know is as useless as tits on a bull. I know that "Orange Pikes" typically means Xingu I, but frankly these fish look nothing like Xingu Is.

I'll try to get a pic this weekend, but they are beyond super shy still. They are eating mysis shrimp very well, but if I come near the tank, they're gone.

I'm hoping you guys might be able to help me narrow down an ID.

Right now, they're about 6" and still very much have a juvenile look to them. They have distinct barring above the lateral line, rather like a cincta. The barring isn't as numerous or as thick as that seen on a cincta, however. They have red teardrops under their eyes, and reddish-orange anal and ventral fins. What's really throwing me is that their very distinct caudal spot is orange and it's not banded.

Any ideas?

 

[Scatocephalus]

You have an awesome set of Crenicichla sp. "Atabapo II"

This species is highly susceptible to lateral line erosion and head pitting so keep the diet good and stay on top of water changes.

Here's an adult.

 

[Peanut_Power]

+1. They are definitely an awesome pike, and seem to take FOREVER to color up, if they ever will. I've had mine for well over a year and they are just NOW starting to get a little tinge of red coloration down their backs. Patience.

I also think that the picture Mark posted is of a female. Unfortunately, I think both of mine are females according to that theory. I think they are like the Saxatilis group in that the females will have a black blotch in the dorsal instead of the typical Lugubris white stripe.

Like Mark said, the HITH and LLE is a pain in the arse. Low pH and super soft, PRISTINE water are about the only things that might keep it away. Mine got it, but fortunately I was able to stop it, and it hasn't gotten any worse. It can be crazy quick though so keep an eye out.

 

[Titania]

Thanks to both of you! I thought Atabapo II might be a possibility, but the black caudal spot you sometimes see in pics threw me.

Luckily I've got a whole house water softener, so soft water isn't a problem for me. I took the substrate out of their tank last night to reduce the potential for nitrate rises. I'll be super careful with the water changes with these guys.

Any idea how much these guys typically go for? I paid $30 each, which seemed a fair price for any pike.

 

[darth pike]

$30 for 6" Atabapo II's??? Makes me think they had no clue what they really had. Congrats.

 

[Titania]

Oh, they definitely had no idea. This is a very reputable LFS, but they're really not so familiar with crenicichla species. They carry them because they sell, but let's face it...ID on these guys isn't so easy.

I think I may go back to see if they have any more.

 

[Peanut_Power]

Yeah I paid $70 for each of mine. You can find them for around $50 fairly easily now though since they are coming in so much. $30 is a great steal though!

 

[Titania]

I've been keeping up a 30% every other day water change schedule, and I think they're quite enjoying that. They've colored up a bit more since I started doing such frequent water changes, and now are a nice reddish-brown from the lateral line up. The orange-red in the fins has gotten more pronounced as well.

I'm quite interested to see what happens with the orange caudal spots. One doesn't have one at all, and the other's is quite large, much different than the fish in Scatocephalus's pic. But otherwise, they look identical to that juvenile pic. Perhaps a regional variant?

They're out and about much more often lately. They still hide when I get too close to the tank, but if I stand about 6 feet back, they'll come out and stare at me...giving me the evil fishy eye.

 

[mbeatrice]

i just picked up a orange pike from uncle neds just yesterday...its a very nice looking pike....one of my fave pikes i looked every where for one...

 

[Titania]

i just picked up a orange pike from uncle neds just yesterday...its a very nice looking pike....one of my fave pikes i looked every where for one...

Darn, Ned only had one "orange pike" left, and I was going to go back and pick it up this weekend. If it's the same pike I got, with the orange spot in the caudal, then your ID is in this thread.