Crenicichla johanna and Crenicichla sp venezuela (strigatas haven't been exported since mid 2000s) are not smaller pikes like compressiceps. If anything they are part of the lugubris family and easily reach 12", even for females. They are far from being placid. Raising from these from juveniles guarantees nothing.
Most pikes are best left with soft water as opposed to the Central American cichlids like vieja types and convict types, which thrive in hard water. The lugubris family get HITH within the first 5 years if kept in hard water.
I agree
Water parameters would be my first bugaboo.
Since most pike cichlids imported these days are mainly from Amazonia ( soft water, low pH, low mineral content areas) and most Vieja (and other Central Americans, including Cons) come from hard water, high ph, high mineral content areas, one or the other may suffer depending on your tap water conditions, usually manifesting in HITH for S Americans in hard water.
I have been able to keep Uruguayan pikes in neutral water though, because they are adapted over millennia to much different conditions than their more northern soft water, low pH Amazonian cousins.
A Uruguayan C.saxitillus below
.