I have been feeding my Bichir whole fish that are about 2 inches long. Just to clarify, these are not feeder fish. I buy them frozen from my LFS. Anyway, my Crenicichla Lucius that is in the tank with him is getting bigger and tonight I watched him eat one of these fish. My pike is only 4inches long so i'm obviously a bit concerned that he may have damaged himself by eating something that is half the size of him. Is this normal for pikes or am I right to be concerned? any help here would be appreciated.
My pike ate something too big
- Thread starter Wrightt3
- Start date
If he could not fully swallow it within 3-5 hours and started to swim erratically, I would be concerned. Pikes are made to consume other fish half their length (the thinner the better). I would assume the filet was not the same girth as him.
At this point do not feed the fish in the tank for 1 week. Give him time to digest his food.
At this point do not feed the fish in the tank for 1 week. Give him time to digest his food.
No, the fish was fairly thin compared to the pike. Will the other fish in the tank be okay if unfed for a week?
All cichlids have a 2nd set of jaws in their throat (much like alien) and are able to slowly use them to work large meals down into the stomach.
It may sometimes take 24 hours to work a large meal down.
It may sometimes take 24 hours to work a large meal down.
Gotta love those elastic stomachs huh? You'd be surprised what pikes can down. Don't underestimate them. . . can be an expensive lesson if you put them with the wrong fish. 
My belly crawler does a good job of keeping my ceibal juvie population in check, takes him a good 24hours to work a mouthfull down.
