To Pike or not to Pike

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emaughan

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 5, 2006
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Colorado Springs
Ok, no more lurking in this forum. I want to get into Pikes but I'm not sure if what I have will work.

My current tank is a 420 gal (8' x 36" x 30") that has a built in overflow that goes to my sump. The tank cycles ~15 min and my sump has a wet dry filled with pot scrubbers and the other return goes through a bunch of filter floss and some nylons filled with various media. The tank is decorated with a 2" layer of black 3M sand mixed with a little white and gray same large basalt rocks, black slate, and some sandstone. Plants consist of one clump of algea covered java moss and lots of algea (lights are T5s and TOO good). Size should be good, not sure about the basalt rock formation since this occationally puts dings on the Loisellei; may switch it out.

Current stock is 5 P. Loisellei (about 6" long), one jag 3.5 inchs, one tire track eel ~ 6-7", 3 tiger barbs (had ten but old age is killing them off), and one feisty Redtail shark. I think stock is compatible.

My water is slightly hard with a pH of 7.6. This is what worries me. Most SA fish tend to like softer water and acid to neutral. Please advise. If this was your tank, what pikes, if any would you add? Rules are the current stock can not be changed (except Barbs are expendable) and the water conditions will not be adjusted.

Thanks for the help - I have greatly enjoyed reading through the threads here.
 
Welcome to the Crenicichla forum!! Hopefully we can turn you into a Crenicichlaholic in no time!! LOL!! Glad you finally decided to get involved, always the first step!!

Having such a large tank, you have MANY more options set out for you than most people!! Rocking!! First and foremost though, I want to tell you that pikes aren't for everyone. They can be aunry, pain in the butts, aggressive too. So don't feel bad if you get them and they just aren't your thing. We Crenicichlaholics are a rare 'breed' of fish keepers....which is why we stick together...lol. Having said that, your tank would be PERFECT for keeping some Crenicichla. Sounds like you have grrreat filtration, and is already running smoothly.

The first problem I see is not being enough hiding places. If you could post pictures of your tank this would help out greatly. Generally, drifwood, rocks, and the such are used for decorations/hiding places. PVC is awesome, as the pikes can hide in it, and the other fish can't get to them. Only problem is its kidna an eye sore. You could glue rocks to it though to make it look better.

Second problem is the RedTailed shark and tire-track eel. Those are two disasters waiting to happen. The eel won't grow fast enough too keep up with the pikes, probably not wit the jag either. Once its out grown, it will get eaten. Sad but true. Pikes are gluttons, and have elastic stomachs, so if you have any doubts about a fish getting eaten, get it outa there cuz it most probably will at least try to eat it. The Jag is a little small too, but they grow pretty fast, so no worries there. I have kept pikes with Jags before, no problems, so you're cool in that respect. ;)

Don't worry about the pH and hardness...when I lived in Nebraska my pikes were kept in 8.0 to 8.2 pH water...and they showed some of the best coloration ever...;). Main thing is to just keep it stable, and not mess with it, but you are already sticking to those rules, so no worries!! :D

Are you wanting a large pike, medium, slender or stocky/robust? Personally I think pikes look best as pairs, and in a tank that size you might be able to get away with two or more pairs...;). Are you wanting a showy pike, or an interesting one? Have you looked at any of the pike species and thought about which ones you would like to get? Doing that would help out greatly in narrowing it down for you...;)

Here, check out this site. Tons of great pictures of pikes....look thru them and see if there are any that you like. Remember that there are a lot more pike species out there, so this just gives you an idea of whats possible...;)

http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/5491/photos.html
 
Wow! fast reply - thanks Peanut_Power (was going to abrievate but PP just doesn't sound polite).

Personalities - I've always loved Cichlids and know that some are just not PC when it comes to dealing with others. If I wanted gentle, dumb and dull, I would have gone with tetras. My Jag and Loisellei have great personalities and I look forward to seeing them grow old together (if they don't go all bad cichlid and kill each other). I would like some other smart fish to add to them mix. I do realize Pikes are not loving, gentle fish.

My RT shark is getting big, fast. It loves the algea in my tank and is geting fat on blood worms, krill, and brine. You are right that I do not want to get a biggy size Pike that will look at my RT shark and think, "can I fit that fat 5-6 inch shark in my mouth?" Same worry with the eel. I did see a cool photo (because it was not of my eel) of a Pike trying to stuff a large eel in his mouth - not something I want to see in my tank. The other fish totally ignore my eel and I like it that way - he is very smart fish and I would hate him to become nothing more than large noodle for my Pikes to slurp down. I will be getting a few other types of fish (no electric eels or wolf fish since I get in the tank sometimes to clean from the inside), and I will be carefull in my selection.

I'm glad to hear my water conditions are not a problem. Reading Vinny's site made it sound like it might be.

I would like to get more than one Pike, but not of the very large species. Dwarves are out of the question as well - Jags and Loesellei and eventually a 30" eel (i.e. Lions, Tigers, and bears - oh my). I do not want a "welfare" pike - one that sits on its rear all day waiting for a meal to come by. It would have to be a Pike that does not need live feeders - this is for health, convinience, and training. I don't want my fish learning how tasty some of their tank mates might be. I would like a pike that moves around the tank and interacts (hopefully in at least a semi positive way) with the other fish. As for showy - who doesn't want a showy fish?

I'll post a pic of my tank. The slate in the back offers many natural caves, but they are easily accessible to the other fish. I'm in the process of finding a good peice of driftwood to drill some wide holes to make a great habitat for my tiretrack - easy to make some Pike hide-a-ways as well. As for PVC caves, death before PVC pipe enters my tank.

I have looked at different Pikes and I do have some favorites. I wanted this thread to be: "If this were my tank, I would add...." This way I can see what others like and if any match my choices. There are those Yodas out there, masters of all things Pike, I would like to hear from them.
 
No probs man, here to help any way I can!! ;)

Not all pikes are brutes, generally though Lugubris pikes are more aggressive than Saxatilis pikes....so its up to you whether you want 'more' or 'less' aggressive. The great thing about pikes is that no pike is the same in personality. So you really never know what you are gonna get...lol.

I'm sorry to say bro, but RT sharks just don't get large enough. They might be aight with a Saxatilis group pike, but Lugubris group pikes would see it as munchies...lol.

Vinnys site is pretty much just what the pikes were at when they were found in the wild. Pretty much gives you a guideline for keeping your pikes if possible. Unless you are trying to breed your pikes though, then don't worry about your water parameters as long as they aren't extreme or flucuating like crazy!

ARe you familiar with Jeff Rapps? www.tangledupincichlids.com ? He has some great fish, tons of pikes as well right now. Some pikes that would be great for your tank would be Crenicichla johanna, Crenicichla vittata, and Crenicichla marmorata. They are all pretty showy pikes, get large, and are awesome fish. Of course, you want your RT shark to be aight so perhaps you should look into Saxatilis group pikes. Alex (Fish Room Plus) has four Crenicichla lucius for $60 shipped to your door. That is a great price, and you have a chance of getting two pairs possibly. In a tank that size, you might be able to keep all the pikes long term. Just go down to the Buy/Sell Vendors forum and check out his forum. Hes a pretty cool guy, ;).
 
Wow there are a lot of words in this thread. My eyes hurt. (guess I should have put on my glasses)
 
No sweat definitely get a pike I got 1 growing out in a 55 I think Ima put him in the new pbass tank when he's big enough not to get mistaken for food.
 
Tank looks good, although I don't think that is the good type of algae, perhaps cynobacteria actually if it is blue/green and slimish. If it is, just do more water changes, and cut back on the light period a little. Aside from that it looks SUPERB! Clean and crisp colors, clean water, happy fish! SCORE! :D
 
Very nice tank and it actually looks like a great set up for a few pikes. I love the lay out and there is a tone of potential there. Make a few of those nooks and crannies alittle wider for the hiding. But generally speaking, Pikes are not shy as a whole in my experience. They are actually very intelligent IMO, well, correction, they are very curious and this is the reason other fish end up in there mouth. I think they just like to see if they can pull it off. But seriously, the right type of pike would be constanly patrolling the tank. I currently have a Atabopa Fire and these are great pikes, definitely pretty when grown. With the tank size you have and the tank mates in there I would go with a Lugubris type bike. They average 12-14 inches and develope very nice colors when mature, they also go through a few changes so that is interesting. Johanna, Xingu I's, Cobra's, Atabopa's and Trapajo's are good choices. From what I hear, Lents and Marms get very large and are pretty aggressive, even for Pikes. In my experience, most pikes aren't down right mean, but they do not back down and will fight back, usually with bad results for the other fish. But you have tons of choices and it would be cool to have a few different pikes, I think that would work in a tank that size........Good luck and keep us posted with pictures along the way.
 
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