Pike pick?

[Mount_Prion]

So I've got them holding these 2 pikes for me at my LFS, and I've paid for one. I told them I'd decide which in a day or two. Which should I pick?

Pike a) Probably more colorful of the two overall. Deep red hue all over, really bright jagged white streak along edge of fin, but not a very well defined back dot. It's not really a circle at all, in fact, just a black splotch. Also, is smaller than the other option, but seems aggressive and was fat so had obviously been eating a lot. Seems very visible. I want aggression to sort of balance out aggression from my other pike:



Pike b) Is the lightest colored pike in the tank which sort of means its markings have more contrast. It is maybe 2'' longer than the other pike and maybe because of its older age or maybe its lighter coloring you can sort of see the black line down the middle of it more. Do these pikes grow into that? This guy seemed to hide a little more than the other and a bit skinnier, but I did see it chase away a geo. Also, his black dot is much more visible:



Any input is appreciated. I'm pretty new to crenicichla and I don't know what's considered generally desirable, just sort of what catches my eye.

Thanks!

 

[clgkag]

Pike a is female and I believe pike b is male, hard to tell without dorsal up. That is probably the difference in body shape and coloration. What is your other pike and what size tank are you wanting to put them both in? It can be tricky getting 2 big lugubris group pikes to cohabitate.

 

[Mount_Prion]

Pike a is female and I believe pike b is male, hard to tell without dorsal up. That is probably the difference in body shape and coloration. What is your other pike and what size tank are you wanting to put them both in? It can be tricky getting 2 big lugubris group pikes to cohabitate.

This is best pic I could get of my guy...the new one will be the last spot in my 220g.

 

[ryansmith83]

Hmmmm... introducing a new pike to your current one (which looks to be a female C. lenticulata) may be tricky.

Both of the pikes in your first post appear to be female. The one with the dorsal down does appear to have a white stripe through it. I like the plump shape of Pike A better, but it appears to have something weird going on with its caudal fin? Is it deformed or misshapen? It could be from an injury when it was young or something.

 

[clgkag]

I agree with Ryan, you have a female lenticulata. I wasn't sure if the line was there in the second pic. With the dorsal down and the slender build, I was guessing at male. With enough cover in your 220 it MIGHT work. It is kind of a crap shoot. Alot depends on the personality of the fish involved. I had 3 lugubris species in my 450 and they each had their own territory, but if they crossed boundaries it was on. They did have alot of room to get away though. You could give it a try but be prepared to pull one of them if it goes bad.

 

[Mount_Prion]

The aggression is something I've come to expect so I'm prepared for it if it happens. The tank is planted and has a lot of hiding spots, and if worst comes to worst I can bring the fish back to my LFS.

That being said, I'd love some more opinions about the actual pick. A or B?

Still having a hard time deciding. Maybe leaning towards A. Still unsure if their black line grows in as they age.

Thanks!

 

[TheNewSeverum]

I like As color a lot better.

 

[1bigdovii]

Pike a is female and I believe pike b is male, hard to tell without dorsal up. That is probably the difference in body shape and coloration. What is your other pike and what size tank are you wanting to put them both in? It can be tricky getting 2 big lugubris group pikes to cohabitate.

Yea if i remember right males are skinnier and females get pink on their stomach and are fatter. I have a female at home. Far as what to choose guess it comes down to if you think a male or female will work better.


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[ryansmith83]

^ Several species of female lugubris pikes will have a white stripe down the length of the dorsal fin. You can see it clearly on the first pike, and on the lenticulata pike that OP posted. Pike B appears to have one too, even though the dorsal is not fully extended.

I've found that female cichlids are often hard on each other. My female severums hate one another. It's probably going to be tricky mixing that female lenticulata with another lugubris type if she's already established the tank as her territory.