Dwarf pike Qs - 29 planted

[FSM]

I have been interested in pikes for a while, and I recently got a Cr. menezesi. I am about to set up a 29 as a planted tank, equipment is ordered so it should be here next week. I've noticed that most people on the planted tank forums have community fish in their planted tanks - I have no interest in those, but thought a dwarf pike or 2 plus some other micro-predators would be awesome in a planted tank.

Do they need very acidic water to survive, or only to breed? I don't wish to breed them.

Cr. nopthalmus is the species I am most interested in. Would they coexist, or should I just get 1?

How do dwarf pikes get along with other fish? Schomburgk's leaf fish (polycentrus schomburgkii) is one I would like to get.

ctenopomas are neat as well, but I know the water they live in is a lot more basic.

 

[darth pike]

Unless you can find a mated pair, even a planted 29 just isn't enough footprint for noto's ... they tend to really, really not like each other. One would be fine with tankmates, my dwarves never messed with other fish unless said cichlid started the fight first, or was small enough the head could fit in the mouth of said pike.

I've kept noto's in tap water no problem (6.8 pH, 2-3 DH), it just wasn't low enough/soft enough for breeding. For a 29 gallon though, I'd recommend regani's over noto's just do to the lower level of aggression if you want more than one dwarf pike in there.

 

[freeskier]

i have a male noto in a planted 29 with some barbs and he is doing great. i would agree that a pair would not work in that small of a tank due to agresssion. other than that, anything that won't fit in its mouth will be fine.

 

[FSM]

are males more colorful than females, or vice versa?

 

[darth pike]

For noto's, the males seem to have more pastel subtle coloration ... but it's the female that has the red surrounded black spots in the dosal fin. So when the dorsal is down, the male might be a slight edge in color. When the dosal is up, the male gets blown away. Here's a shot of my male, sorry for the quality as it was a borrowed point and shoot job. But it should give you an idea about the subtle pastel coloration. The white specs are frozen daphnia btw!!

 

[FSM]

I will just get one then, hopefully I can find them. I'll have to call some places.