The Crenicichla Vittata "alligator pike" growout thread
- Thread starter crenicichla444
- Start date
All six are still alive and going strong. eating on fd krill, cut tilapia, mysis and i tossed in a few NLS large pellets which they tried to choke down so I might have to get the small NLS and make feeding a lot easier and convenient for myself lol. They really havent grown much as I thought smallest are 2+ inches largest are about 3 inches. Water has been unheated and I don't feed as heavy as I used to so that may be why. They're still hand tame and will swim between my fingers and through my hand when feeding I can even pet them as they swim through my hands. I think now that it's summer I'll probably throw a heater in there and maybe start feeding 3x a day. I moved them back to the algae covered tank so I'll clean the glass and try and snap some pics tonight and maybe even a feeding video. They've all been surprisingly nice and good to each other. Not a split fin or scale out of place. I see the larger ones sometimes nip at the smaller ones to keep pecking order but that's it. I'm definitely looking forward to getting these monsters to 18+ inches
Edit: holy cow this video quality is terrible I should've turned my phone sideways to record it...
I'll add to this real quick, as you might remember I picked up a Vittata too, mine was a bit bigger and now is about 7-8" Really hard to get an idea . My tank has been hanging about 78-82 all summer ( 5+ powerheads, 2 canister filters, you get the idea, and the house stays pretty warm in the summer, no full house ac)
(edit added original) Original pic of my vittata
few pics of stuff in my tank
Love to see any new updates ( got any pics instead of videos?) For sizing how big is the tank mate in there?
(edit added original) Original pic of my vittata
few pics of stuff in my tank
Love to see any new updates ( got any pics instead of videos?) For sizing how big is the tank mate in there?
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Very nice! Good to see your big guy still going strong. Be careful he might try and eat that minuanoI'll add to this real quick, as you might remember I picked up a Vittata too, mine was a bit bigger and now is about 7-8" Really hard to get an idea . My tank has been hanging about 78-82 all summer ( 5+ powerheads, 2 canister filters, you get the idea, and the house stays pretty warm in the summer, no full house ac)
(edit added original) Original pic of my vittata
few pics of stuff in my tank
Love to see any new updates ( got any pics instead of videos?) For sizing how big is the tank mate in there?
I like your choice of tankmates usually I'm not a fan of those Reggie SA/CA cichlids but you have some of the ones I can roll with lol. Goldfish is 5 inches and the gudgeon sp is 2-3 inches. My tank went from 67-77 from the winter to the summer gradually. They're finally starting to grow faster. Biggest one is probably 3+ inches and looking good.
Excuse the crappy pics and algae I don't like to clean the glass haven't cleaned it for awhile I've been content with hand feeding them from the top for such a long time now I can finally se how much they've grown lol. The bigger ones are getting the nice alligator type snout etc. Looking really nice and theyr spangling on their tails and dorsal are coming out. Looking good too bad that's my low maintainence "algae" covered tank. Hand feeding and still super tame. Been growing pretty slow although i keep them unheated and let it get 65-67f in the winter so maybe that's why. Thinking of selling 2-3 of the smaller ones to a local guy then we can trade off to get correct pair formation. Although not sure i wanna sell any off. Still have all 6 and I love the squad... A feeder bigger than the smallest vittata got into the tank somehow and before I could remove it one of the big vittatas ate it and swallowed it with ease. Yet leaves his own smaller and slimmer siblings alone. They're almost like a family lol.
@koltsix u gonna send me pics?
crenicichla444
Your Vittata are really coming along. Those little beasts will be beefy monsters in no time. I continue to look forward to their progress and what ever other pikes you may come upon.Still tryin to get my T1 from me. lol Man I know how you feel. I started with three, 1 male two females and sold all but one. They really are stunning and I regretted it quickly.
Of the the big Vitatta I got off Wes? Sure. I lost one unfortunately shortly after arrival but I still have one left. Think Wes approx. their size at 12 inches but they came in around 14-15 inches. Here's some pics of the beast.
