What Is This Pike?

[balton777]

I got this a few months ago at only a couple two to three inches as a belly crawler.

He's 5 maybe 6" tL now and is never on his belly....ever. He swims in the lower and mid-levels most of the time and begs for food when I come near. Nice fish but I don't think it's a BC, is it?

 

[clgkag]

I think it's a sveni

 

[BigPic]

It is a Sveni. Both are often collected together, from Columbia. . . FANTASTIC Saxatilis type pike, it's a male, find him a girl, you won't regret it.

 

[Gruff Master]

It is a Sveni. Both are often collected together, from Columbia. . . FANTASTIC Saxatilis type pike, it's a male, find him a girl, you won't regret it.

These Sax. type Pikes can be confusing to me. They can look so much alike. How do you know that this is a male? What are the signs?

 

[balton777]

Thanks Bigpic, will look them up. I appreciate the quick ID.

 

[Peanut_Power]

Yes, I HATE IDing Saxatilis group pikes. Blah!

Females will have a black blotch/spot in the dorsal, and a cherry red beer gut belly!

Generally the female Saxatilis group pikes will have a dorsal spot/splotch and/or a white stripe in the dorsal. Also the red, plump belly is another helpful indicator.

 

[BigPic]

Thanks Jer, I guess I shoulda pointed out the differences. As a side note, female Sveni usually have a better pattern than males.

 

[jakeowen]

How much bigger will he get?

 

[balton777]

Good question, how big will it get?

And should I take it back? Since it's not what I thought it was, I'm thinking about it.

It's supposed to be a smaller creni for my smaller tank. My plan was that when I get a full size pike, I was going to spend some money and order myself a super awesome pike or pair for the bigger tank.

 

[balton777]

After reading a little about them, I found some of my answers.

Here's something I thought was interesting....why my LFS had them labeled as belly crawlers.

http://pikecichlid.com/svenipage.html

[SIZE=+1]Crenicichla sveni Ploeg, 1991[/SIZE]​

Group: Saxatilis
Distribution: Rio Meta drainage in Colombia.
Type Locality: Puerto Gaitan, along road Villavicencio-Puerto Lopez, Río Metá, Colombia
Size: 8 - 10 inches Comments: A frequently encountered species that is exported out of Colombia with C. sp. Belly Crawler. They are often seen in the same tanks in aquarium shops. They are both found in the Rio Meta system but C. sveni is found in the slower waters, while C. sp. Belly Crawler occupies the rapids and fast-flowing streams. Females of C. sveni possess numerous black spots on the dorsal fins. They are not difficult to spawn and are rewarding aquarium residents - bold and constantly hungry. The chain of blotches along the lateral line makes this species easy to distinguish. This species may be the only described saxatiline from Colombia and it is named after Swedish Ichthyologist Sven Kullander, whose excellent work you may reach through my links page.