Yes you can get big snakeheads but there are also dwarf ones adult at 4", that could be kept in a community tank. Not all snakeheads are aggressive killers, just got a bad reputation. 
pikes and snakeheads
- Thread starter geeah
- Start date
Snakeheads are illegal in some places. I had 2 that lasted about a week. LFS said nothing was wrong with my water so they let get somethin else. I was mad cause i found out they were Illegal to have here so of course now you cant even find them. They ate good those 2 weeks though.
they werent dark like those pics, more like a desert sand color with redish spots.
they werent dark like those pics, more like a desert sand color with redish spots.
There are many differences between pikes and snakeheads...but that main one that will help you distinguish them is the fact that Snakeheads anal fin runs at least HALF of their body...where as Crenicichla (pikes) the anal fin does not. Aside from that, and the large scales on the snakeheads heads that also helps to ID them, it can be a challenge to tell them apart. Personally I am a little worried when i have pikes shipped to me cuz most Game and Park wardens and what not can't tell them apart...and since they look so similar, yeah, not kewl. I would make hell though if they confiscated and destroyed my pikes cuz they thought they were snakeheads...oh i would be PISSED! Keep in mind though that pikes get large as well...not four feet like some of the snakeheads...but several pikes easily push 2' feet...some exceed it. There are also dwarf pikes, so snakeheads and pikes are 'similiar' in several aspects. Don't under estimate pikes though. Seems like every one in this post is makin pikes look like pussies, which they are most definately not. Inch for inch, pikes are just as aggressive if not more aggressive than some snakeheads. I can't even imagine a 4' pikes aggression, but i can imagine it would DEMAND respect. Each pike and snake head has varied aggression as well. Pikes don't really tolerate their own kind unless they are a pair, and even then they can wreck havoc on each other. Same goes for most snakeheads. I have only kept gachua....which in my opinion wasn't that aggressive at all. I've had pike cichlids the same size that totally dominated and terrorized the other fish in the tank. Pikes are also ruthless predators.....often eating more than they should, thankz to their elastic stomach. Its a VERY common sight to see pike cichlids with several tails stickin outa their mouths because of their gluttony. They aren't your typical cichlid also in the fact that they will try to eat fish that they shouldn't be able to or even try to. Anywho.....just my two cents...
Great info regarding the difference in lower fins. Pike cichlids are a specialty, not your typical cichlid. My four orange pikes died for no reason. Rest of the tankmates were alive, but the pikes just croak.Peanut_Power said:There are many differences between pikes and snakeheads...but that main one that will help you distinguish them is the fact that Snakeheads anal fin runs at least HALF of their body...where as Crenicichla (pikes) the anal fin does not. Aside from that, and the large scales on the snakeheads heads that also helps to ID them, it can be a challenge to tell them apart. Personally I am a little worried when i have pikes shipped to me cuz most Game and Park wardens and what not can't tell them apart...and since they look so similar, yeah, not kewl. I would make hell though if they confiscated and destroyed my pikes cuz they thought they were snakeheads...oh i would be PISSED! Keep in mind though that pikes get large as well...not four feet like some of the snakeheads...but several pikes easily push 2' feet...some exceed it. There are also dwarf pikes, so snakeheads and pikes are 'similiar' in several aspects. Don't under estimate pikes though. Seems like every one in this post is makin pikes look like pussies, which they are most definately not. Inch for inch, pikes are just as aggressive if not more aggressive than some snakeheads. I can't even imagine a 4' pikes aggression, but i can imagine it would DEMAND respect. Each pike and snake head has varied aggression as well. Pikes don't really tolerate their own kind unless they are a pair, and even then they can wreck havoc on each other. Same goes for most snakeheads. I have only kept gachua....which in my opinion wasn't that aggressive at all. I've had pike cichlids the same size that totally dominated and terrorized the other fish in the tank. Pikes are also ruthless predators.....often eating more than they should, thankz to their elastic stomach. Its a VERY common sight to see pike cichlids with several tails stickin outa their mouths because of their gluttony. They aren't your typical cichlid also in the fact that they will try to eat fish that they shouldn't be able to or even try to. Anywho.....just my two cents...
That sucks bro!! I am sorry! How big were they? Crenicichla are a bit sensative to water parameters and can be delicate when they are below 4"....after that though they reallly get robust and practically seem indestructable...lol.
They were about 3-4 inches. I was really hoping to get a pair, but one morning, they were just dead. They were with my Dats in the 330. They were holding their own too. No visible injuries at all, but looks like they had a heart attack and died! Frozen dead. Weird. When my LFS gets them again, I might get the same quantity because i couldn't figure out the sexes.
You won't be able to sex Lugubris pikes till they are subadult....even then it can be tricky if you don't know what you are lookin for. They don't hit subadult till about 8 to 10"......so don't feel bad about not being able to sex them...lol...
...so don't feel bad about not being able to sex them...lol...