Spawning Crenicichla Frenata: Need Advice!

[Willy G.]

Hi all,

First post here. I currently have a 125g freshwater setup with 2 salvinis, 4 silver dollars, a pleco, a green terror, and a breeding pair of pike cichlids crenicichla frenata. They have spawned a number of times and I am currently raising a few fry in a 16 gallon tank. I also have a 38 gallon tank and was considering moving the pair of pikes to this tank to spawn. My questions are these: do you think that the pikes will spawn in a tank of this size, and up to what size do you think I can keep the fry and the parents together? The plan would be to raise fry and parents together and then move the babies into the 16 gallon for them to grow. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks!

Willy.

 

[Peanut_Power]

Welcome to MFK!!! The fact that your first post was in the Crenicichla forum speaks greatly of you!! You're definately going to love it here!

Congrats on the breeding!! Definately get some pictures of your breeding Saxatilis pikes!! Awesomely done! As for puttin them in the smaller tank...I'm not so sure thats a good idea. Changing the environment and stressing the pikes out might break the pair bond. Double that up with being in a small tank, you could end up with a single pike....

The better scenario would be to put them in nothing less than a 50gal tank. Those are some big pikes, and they will need room to move and get away from each other occassionally. I know when I can't get away from my wife occassionally, even though i love her very much, can make me kinda grumpy. Plenty of PVC and clay pots on their sides will definately help in gettin them in the mood, as well as several pieces of driftwood.

About how long to leave the young with the parent. You could leave them with the parents until they are about 1". Crenicichla are amazing parents that are extremely devoted to their young. So you should be fine in that aspect. If you start seein them disappear though be sure to remove them. The juv. may also eat each other, so try to keep them in the same size range in the tanks.

 

[Willy G.]

Thanks so much for your help! Are saxatilis and frenata the same species? I attached a few pics of mom and dad; the male is about 7.5" and the female 5.5-6". I tried to get a pic of the fry but there's no light in the 16 so pics were tough...

Also, I have a pair of salvinis in the tank too that occasionally spawn; I wonder if I could keep the two fry together if they are of comparable size?

Thanks again,

willy.

 

[Optimist]

Wow. Beautiful Pikes! Good luck raising the fry.

 

[robmcd]

very nice! saxtillis is a type of pikes of which yours belongs to. those things would look insane with the right lighting. Good luck with them and look forward to seeing them and you around here in the future.

 

[NorCaliCichlids]

Old thread but I'm thinking of ordering some Frenata and wanted to make sure these pikes are indeed Frenata. Thanks!