Pike Cichlid Help

[KurtH]

Hi all,

I am new to this forum and I'm wondering if someone can help.
I have purchased some Crenicichla Regani and although they are dwarf pike cichlids, I am wondering if they are able to co-exist with a normal pike cichlid for example, the two spot pike cichlid,or will this just get messy?

Please help

Thanks

 

[zigg]

hi, welcome to MFK!
i have never had any dwarf pikes but my 6" female pike will attack anything. if you have a large tank you might be able to try it, just watch for awhile and make sure the full size is well fed. feeding might also be an issue with the dwarf not being able to compete for food. just my opinion. theres plenty of people on here that will give you great advise

 

[KurtH]

Thanks for the quick reply....A few other sites say to use PVC tubing for each fish to stop Crenicichla fighting,but not sure if that counts for both types!

 

[zigg]

that could help. mabe a smaller pipe for the dwarf just so he would have a place to hide that the bigger one cant get in. ive read the dwarf isnt as aggresive and now that i think about they stay under 5 inches dont they? if so it would probably become a meal.

 

[KurtH]

Right......I went for it......my tank now contains:-
3 x Crenicichla Regani
1 x Crenicichla Cyclostoma
1 x Crenicichla Frenata Var

At present everything seems ok, I suppose time will tell!

 

[zigg]

nice pickups! any pics?

 

[bigfishrcool1193]

Just watch the larger pikes around the reganis...

 

[its_an_obsession]

i forget what alot of places label the two spot pike as but i believe its a saxatilis pike. id really watch the size difference and aggression.

ive never had a regani before and i think they are one of the larger dwarf pikes. i have noto's now and the biggest one is at 4 inches and i think many of the larger saxatilis pikes and lugubris would make a nice meal of them if they wanted.

id just make sure to keep a close eye on aggression and size. if they can fit in the big pikes mouth. then thats bad.

 

[KurtH]

Right....I'm not even sure the LFS gave me the correct names now.....The Reganis are correct,but not sure about the larger Pikes.....I am going to create a new post for an ID

 

[Scatocephalus]

Right....I'm not even sure the LFS gave me the correct names now.....The Reganis are correct,but not sure about the larger Pikes.....I am going to create a new post for an ID

I just ID'd them for you and I would not keep them in with a pair of regani. The sveni will grow to 8"-10" and Belly Crawler to 6". That said, both species are more aggressive than the regani.

Another consideration is water parameters. Both the sveni and Belly Crawler come from Columbia and hail from relatively hard water. The regani come from Peru and Brazil and need moderately soft water. They don't thrive in the harder water. Not sure what type of water you have but if the Altolamprologus in the 2nd pic is any indication you should probably set up a seperate tank for the regani.