how well do lugubris pikes get along with leporinus?

[djsaltynuts]

i know leporinus are extremely aggressive but how are they compared to an aggressive pike?

the pike is 5” and pretty aggressive even by standards of aggressive cichlids and is about to go into his next tank which will be a 75 gallon (im aware eventually hell need something like a 180). the 75 will be an extremely fast flowing riverine xingu biotope with large round riverstones and sand. the tank is going to be a centerpiece in my living room so having more than one fish but i dont want to sacrifice the pikes well being for other fish.

are leporinus really that devilish compared to something like an aggressive pike or would their attitude be dwarfed to something similar to a loach?

the last thing i want to see on my pike are shredded fins, damaged scales, or a lost eyeball, so if the leporinus would mess with the pike ill just keep the pike alone.

i am undecided on the species of leporinus i want i may get red banded or brunneus but most like id be getting the fasciatus.

also not important to the thread but when should his final tank upgrade be? i would assume about 10”. i have a 7 foot community tank she could go in but id rather keep her in a tank specifically set up for her or ill put her in an indoor pond.

 

[Deadeye]

The thing about leporinus is that they will match whatever aggression is put up with them. Peaceful fish will get shredded, but aggressive fish and them seem to have a truce. They harass only what won’t defend itself. It will try to beat the pike, but once the pike fights back the leporinus should get less nasty. My leporinus is the dominant fish and acts just like a cichlid, gets into occasional scuffles but is rather calm otherwise. The pike and it would likely split the tank and only butt heads if one violates the territory lines. Having some target convicts may be a good idea.

 

[djsaltynuts]

i would want to keep a group of leporinus how would this change the dynamic? i dont really want to split the 75 into two 2 ft territories. would a 5” species of leporinus create more of a dither effect or would they just be eaten?

 

[Deadeye]

i would want to keep a group of leporinus how would this change the dynamic? i dont really want to split the 75 into two 2 ft territories. would a 5” species of leporinus create more of a dither effect or would they just be eaten?

Not sure. When I kept 3 leporinus they were all just very territorial. Schooling effect probably needs 6+ and at least 180 gallons. No experience with pikes so I can’t say for sure that a smaller one would survive. They are fast though and built to not get eaten.

 

[Rocksor]

the last thing i want to see on my pike are shredded fins, damaged scales, or a lost eyeball, so if the leporinus would mess with the pike ill just keep the pike alone.

i would want to keep a group of leporinus how would this change the dynamic? i dont really want to split the 75 into two 2 ft territories. would a 5” species of leporinus create more of a dither effect or would they just be eaten?

I would just skip the leporinus fasciatus all together if you don't want your pike with shredded fins, there's no guarantee this won't happen especially if you want a group of them. I'm assuming this pike is from the saxatilis family if it doesn't get more than 10" (or are you talking about the leporinus). I've actually seen multiple L fasciatus around 10" in an aquarium, so a group should be able to harass a 10" pike. With a pike there are not territory lines if it is top boss, even in an 8 foot tank.

 

[Deadeye]

I would just skip the leporinus fasciatus all together if you don't want your pike with shredded fins, there's no guarantee this won't happen especially if you want a group of them. I'm assuming this pike is from the saxatilis family if it doesn't get more than 10" (or are you talking about the leporinus). I've actually seen multiple L fasciatus around 10" in an aquarium, so a group should be able to harass a 10" pike. With a pike there are not territory lines if it is top boss, even in an 8 foot tank.

I agree with Rocksor
Best pass on the leporinus fasciatus. Very much a wild card that is best if the tank is planned around its aggression.

 

[FJB]

I can't predict what will happen between the Leporinus and the pike. I have never had a pike.
However, I did have a single Leporinus fasciatus (~8 inches) in the same tank as a single Leporinus brunneus of similar size. They were in a tank with several other larger and meanish (Distichodus lussuoso and D. sexfasciatus), or smaller but jerkish fish (Abramites abramites, Anostomus anostomus). L. The stripped L. brunneus was probably the more chill (peaceful) of the group. The tank did fine for a number of years until I hav=d to give them away due to relocating cross country.

 

[Gunfleet]

I was keeping four Leporinus nijsseni in a 125 with a few silver dollars and a C. lenticulata (or something very similar) with no issues from the Leps. They kept to themselves, didn't chase or pick on anyone orther than each other. No torn fins, more of a social dominance thing I'd guess. I finally moved the to a friend's 240 and the Leps to a 360. Even though L. njsseni aren't the biggest fish full grown, they do need room to swim to be happy.

 

[djsaltynuts]

I would just skip the leporinus fasciatus all together if you don't want your pike with shredded fins, there's no guarantee this won't happen especially if you want a group of them. I'm assuming this pike is from the saxatilis family if it doesn't get more than 10" (or are you talking about the leporinus). I've actually seen multiple L fasciatus around 10" in an aquarium, so a group should be able to harass a 10" pike. With a pike there are not territory lines if it is top boss, even in an 8 foot tank.

i believe it’s atabapo 1 so im expecting to get a 12-16 inch fish. why do you say theres no territory lines in a tank with a pike?

 

[Rocksor]

i believe it’s atabapo 1 so im expecting to get a 12-16 inch fish. why do you say theres no territory lines in a tank with a pike?

It will fight for dominance of the whole tank. Other cichlids allow certain space, and never cross an imaginary line. I had a jag that was top boss, but it rarely crossed the halfway mark of the 8 foot tank, even though the other fish weren't that aggressive. The pike on the other hand, swam across the full length of the tank, beating any fish that wouldn't back down. As long as the other fish back down, it won't receive major injuries from the pike.