PIKE CICHLID + BICHIR 150 GALLON

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TyKornblue

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 21, 2023
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Florida
im wondering if I could put any type of pike cichlid in my 150 gallon tank with a few bichirs (endli, delhizi, dinosaur). If so, what species of pike cichlid?
 
Have to be in the saxatalis group. I’d stay with upper jaw polys.
 
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Pike cichlids often see other long cylindrical, substrate hugging fish as competitors, whether or not it would see a bichir as one (to be vanquished with malice,) will be an interesting experiment.
If you do decide to try, please post the results whether or not it works or turns out to be a blood bath.
I have found (with cichlids) it always best, not to keep similar looking species together.
Whereas we humans have a proclivity for seeing like shapes together, as opposed to accepting differences as a good thing (xenophobia),
in the fish world it can be just the opposite, in that looking similar in color, or mouth shape, or body style, means competition for the same limited resources.
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It is common for aquarists that (for example) like the genus Parachromis to want to keep a tank of them together, because they like or are drawn the predatory look, but this often ends with disastrous results.
In nature, you seldom find 2 species of Parachromis in the same habitat, the one that is better suited usually eliminates the other.
The same concept is actually magnified in the limited confines of a tank.
This may apply to bichirs, (in nature), they occupy the same river niche in Africa, as pike cichlids do in South America.
 
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I had a large 12" male atabapo red with Bichirs and other fish with no issue at all

I'd have no issue with that combo and the atabapo reds are gorgeous fish
 
Had a red pike with my bichirs and had to rehome due to aggressive behavior.
 
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