Crenicichla strigatta ?

[jgentry]

Alright. Today I was in petsmart to get some frozen food and to my surprise I saw a nice sized pike that was not labled other then pike. After looking through the only online pictures I found I'm pretty sure it's a strigatta. It had a strong line from it's nose through it's eye all the way to it's tail with a well defined eye spot. Above that line was a much thiner line. It had a small amount of red/orange on it's dorsal fin. It was about 6 inches. I know it's hard to ID a fish without a picture, but do I sound correct?

Has anyone else seen these pikes a petsmart?

I'm looking for a pike to add to my 220g CA/SA cichlid tank that includes only semi aggressive to non aggressive fish (oscar, chocolate cichlid, severums, ECT). I cannot find any information on these pikes. Does anyone have any info as far as aggression and size, will they work in my tank? If not what would be a good pike for my tank. This was a pretty nice looking fish and only $9, but I don't want to add anything very aggressice to my tank.

Any help would be appreciated,
jgentry

 

[ShadowStryder]

Chances are it is not a true strigata but a more common pike such as a Johanna or Venezuelen. Both exhibit the strong lateral line with a smaller lateral line and spotting when juveniles.
But with the mentioning of the red/orange on the dorsal I would lean towards Johanna.

Chances are if it was either of these it would bully or even hammer on the Chocolate or Sevs. Especially once it matured. Even it it was a True Strigata it would do the same.

 

[jgentry]

Thanks, that's what I was afraid of and why I didn't pick him up. Very cool looking fish for a great price though.

Are there any pikes that would work with my current stock list? I really like the different body shape, but I don't want any aggession issues.

jgentry

 

[ShadowStryder]

Crenicichla Acutirostris are a nice not nearly as aggro of a pike if you want to go with larger ones, otherwise check into some of the Saxatilis species which are a smaler species ranging from 6-12 inches depending on the type. Although they have a rep of being aggro also but atleast of a smaller size scale. The problem is finding some. (Acutirostris) I think George at Shark Aquarium is the last one I know of that had some. You could try to contact him in the vendor forum. Good luck though doesn't have a good repbabout answering back. Although in most instances he has always replied to me, or someone from there has.

GL