please ID these pikes (and answer a question)

[rnocera]

We got these pike cichlids in at work, and all were labeled "white spot pike cichlids." I was wondering if anyone could ID them for us. Two different shipments brought in what appear to be four different types (these three different types, and some that had a solid black stripe and tons of red on the fins).

Also, while I'm making a thread here- Can any of the dwarf pike cichlids be kept with Apistogramma cacatuoides (Dwarf cockatoo cichlids)? Or are they all big enough to be aggressive towards the dwarf cockatoos? It'll be a while before I do either of these, but after I get my bigger fish set up and going, I'm contemplating a SA cichlid tank, and these are two I'm thinking about.

Thanks!

 

[HerCrenVie]

First 3 pics - Crenicichla lucius [Relative lack of spangling and position of humeral blotch rules out lepidota, saxatilis and anthurus; straight, unadulterated lateral stripe rules out sveni and frenata; yes there are other species but those are not found at the neighbourhood LFS]

Last pic - Crenicichla sp. "Belly Crawler"

As for your question - how big do the Apistogramma get? Crenicichla lucius gets to 8" and Crenicichla sp. "Belly Crawler" to 6", so if the dwarves are too small they will be eaten.

 

[rnocera]

Males get to about 3.5", females stay closer to 2. I'm guessing a 6" crenicichla would try to eat them, then. Or do you think they're big enough the pikes wouldn't bother them?

 

[rnocera]

Also, I just realised I was looking at the species backwards- That belly crawler is already over 6". She's got to be 7" at least. She was about 4" when she came in, and has grown like an absolute weed.

 

[darth pike]

None of the species you posted would work with apistos but the I have kept at some point either noto's, regani, compressiceps, and orinoco dwarves with rams or dwarf acaras. In nature noto's feed on apisto fry. Cauc's are one of the larger apistos, my largest dwarves wouldn't have been able to fit even a full grown female cauc's head in their mouth. I'd try it myself.

 

[rnocera]

I think I'd like to try it. I'm working on consolidating some space, and I'm designing my stand to hold another tank under my 90, so I'm looking for a smaller tank that I'd like to plant very heavily. My thought was SA cichlids who like soft water packed with plants.

I'm thinking a 30 gallon is what will end up fitting down there- think this sounds good for a pair of one dwarf pike species or another and 2-3 caucs?

 

[darth pike]

An already mated pair of regani in a 3ft 30gal with a trio should be fine. Or at least, it's a stocking level I would try myself.

If they aren't a pair though, things can get a touch rough. Regani aren't as aggressive to themselves to the degree as the others, but I would make sure lots of hiding places. Plants and driftwood. Regani have been bred in 30" 20 longs, but are usually paired in larger tanks first.