Someone help me identify my pike

[erythrinus]

I’ve had it for about a year. I think it is a Venezuela but not sure and not sure if gender. Sorry for algae but he’s skittish so I skipped scubbing the tank
M.I plan to move him into bigger tank soon...

 

[Rocksor]

Crenicichla sp Venezuela (yellow face variant). You're lucky it's not the pure grey variant.

 

[erythrinus]

I haven’t kept pike cichlids in the past. I’d love to pair this fish. Usually I’d start with a group of juveniles, but how likely would 2 adult pikes be to pair if compatible... also, any idea on sex?

 

[Rocksor]

You have a female due to the pink belly. A male will not have the pink belly, and be an overall yellow with a slight grey tinge in the whole body.

 

[erythrinus]

Okay that’s what I thought. Her belly only turned pink recently. She used to eat out of my hand but suddenly stopped hand feeding and became fearful of me. Don’t know what happened. She’s eating again but still wary. I’m afraid to move her since she is so skittish..
Is it even worth trying to pair her? I usually fail with adult cichlids...

 

[Rocksor]

Okay that’s what I thought. Her belly only turned pink recently. She used to eat out of my hand but suddenly stopped hand feeding and became fearful of me. Don’t know what happened. She’s eating again but still wary. I’m afraid to move her since she is so skittish..
Is it even worth trying to pair her? I usually fail with adult cichlids...

Pikes are pretty hard to pair up, they like to beat the snot out of each other and find who is worthy. Half the time the other pike ends up dying.

 

[erythrinus]

That’s what I figured. Looks like she’s gonna stay alone... she’s already 12”+ and will easily kill most suitors.

thanks for the help!

 

[erythrinus]

I figured I would add to my old thread since it’s regarding this same pike. She’s living in a 40gal in the corner of my fish room, she’s made a cave for herself in the back and is not spooked, but she still rarely eats. She looks great and tank is well filtered and maintained, so I don’t know what her problem is. She used to eat king mealworms, earthworms, dubia roaches and feeders, but now ignores all of the above most of the time. I’ve had this fish for many years and she used to hand feed and ask for food daily. She’s currently about 14” long with good body condition. She started to develop hole in the head when she was younger, but it stopped progressing when I started feeding more insects, and now it is barely perceptible.
Any thought appreciated...

 

[Rocksor]

Do you have hard water? How often do you feed her?