Pike experts, some advice please.

[xEchOx]

Hey guys a few questions. I have a 75g tank with a pretty aggressive female festae in it. She is solo right now because I get the feeling she will not accept cichlid tankmates. She almost killed a firemouth overnight (I know, not saying much since FM's are kinda pansies) and I don't want to just toss some random fish in there for her to destroy. So I've been racking my brain trying to think of something that might get along with her. Something not similar to her shape... I thought maybe a bichir, but I've been told that's not really a great idea....

Maybe a pike cichild would work? She's about 5 inches right now and I have a pleco in the tank with her but I have to take him out every other week because he's shredded a bit.

Any pike cichlid that fits my needs? How is there temperment? Max size? I don't know much about these guys so looking for a crash course. Thanks.

 

[Funky_Fish14]

Some of the larger pikes (The ones I think would be able to 'handle' her) I think would be too agressive. If its 'her tank', she may not accept anything into there, and even big agressive fish wont always fight back if its new territory. Maybe you could try a pike or other fish if you re-arranged the tank, changed decorations, etc... but I dont know. A pike that stays lower to the bottom might be a possibility, maybe some sort of larger saxtilis pike? IMO any Lugubris will either be too agressive or probably get too big.

If Peanut Power chimes in Im sure you'll get a good answer.

Chris

 

[xEchOx]

I can put her into my 125g for a week or so if I got a pike. I've done it before just to see how she would react to other cichlids - thats when she almost killed the FM. So removing her from the 75g for a week or two wouldn't be a problem.

 

[Loves severums]

here r some pikes from the Saxatilis group.

Crenicichla lucius
Crenicichla sveni
Crenicichla alta
Crenicichla anthurus
Crenicichla lepidota

 

[HiImSean]

if she's pretty aggressive, i dont think a sax will handle her.

it depends what kind of pike you can get. i've heard of johanna being pretty rough, xangu 1's could prolly hang in there with her as well. if you can switch over to a 125g you should have no problem with a pike with her

 

[Funky_Fish14]

I guess I was a little worried about a lugubris killing the festae? My 12" female Lent. tries to kill everything around it... and my 8.5" Johanna will stand up to anything even if it will kick his ass(and he has a huge mouth)... Plus IMO all lugubris get too big for a 75g. I think they should have more swimming room. I know lepidota will grow to 8-10"... if you can find a bigger one it might be a possibility? Plus they stay low in the tank (mine does, and hes got p-zazz but hes not overly agressive, and is with two small jags).

Chris

 

[xEchOx]

. if you can switch over to a 125g you should have no problem with a pike with her

I have a 125g but there are other fish in it. I could keep her in it too, but she keeps shredding my tinfoils and featherfin. There's also an oscar in there but he's full grown and the festae avoids him. That's why she's in the 75g solo.

 

[its_an_obsession]

my thoughts are if it her tank, throwing in just one cichlid or one pike probably wont end well. your gonna put a fish in and its gonna be alittle shocked no matter what which makes it an easy target and there is only one target.

id suggest going big and adding several fish. its gonna be hit or miss with most pikes you get. some wanna kill everything and some are perfectly fine just chillen with the rest of the fish. kinda like humans, some are nice and some are serial killers.

my go to dither fish for my cichlids has always been silver dollars. id say give it a whirl with 6 or so silver dollars and try adding a pike cichlid as well. i think almost any can live in a 75g. altho the 125 you have would always be better.

if the festae starts going on a killing spree, i think its fair to say you might jsut have to leave her in her own tank. the silver dollars are very quick tho so they shouldnt get beat up to badly.

 

[xEchOx]

I know lepidota will grow to 8-10"... if you can find a bigger one it might be a possibility? Plus they stay low in the tank (mine does, and hes got p-zazz but hes not overly agressive, and is with two small jags).

Chris

Lepidota huh? I'll look into it. I definitely don't want the festae to be in danger either, she cost me a pretty penny. If its too much of a risk I just might leave her solo.


Right now I have three convicts in quarantine... we'll see how they fare first.