Sex ratio of pikes?

[illumnae]

I recently acquired a pair of juvenile johannas about 5 inches in length. No idea why, but the female made short work of the male within a couple of days from their introduction into the tank (I thought juvenile pikes were supposed to be gregarious!). The remaining female is now alone.

I can get another johanna in, but am now deciding whether to get another male to "try my luck" at a bonded pair, or whether I should just get another female so I'll have 2 prettily coloured ones that will hopefully get along since there's no male around.

I don't intend to actively try and breed them, even if I do get a pair.

 

[elindra]

If you have no intentions to breed, you might as well go for colour

 

[illumnae]

2 females together wont have excessive violence as compared to a male female pairing right?

 

[BigPic]

I wouldnt count on two females working, they are still pikes and by nature have a need to be dominant.

 

[elindra]

Actually as long as there are pikes, there will be aggression

 

[illumnae]

mmm so it's best to just stick with 1? I'm ok with aggression so long as they don't kill each other!

 

[clgkag]

A lot of it depends on tank size. The bigger the tank the more likely they can get along. I have had up to 5 pikes in one tank, but it was a 450. Also if you want to get a male female pair, it would be better to buy a group and let them pair on their own. Trying to 'force' a pair often results in the death of one of them, as you found out. Good luck and keep us posted.