Xingu I

[jgentry]

Well I got donated a small pike cichlid today. I neighbor bout it for his community tank not knowing any better and brought it to me when it killed a few tetra's. He said it was an orange pike. I looked through the photos and am sure it's a xingu I. It is currently about 4 and 1/2 inches. I put it in my 45g growout tank that I have several small severums in until I can figure out what to do with it.

It looks like from the info online they get 14inches and are pretty aggressive. What size tank do these guys require? Are there any tankmates that will get a long with them long term? I have a 220g up a running but it is mostly semi aggressive SA fish and I don't think the pike would work in there for very long.

I currently have a 90g saltwater tank that I have been contemplating switching back to freshwater. Would this tank work? How long can it stay in the 45g? Are there any CA/SA that would get along with it in a 90g. I don't really want to have a tank just for it.

Any info on these would be apreciated.

Thanks,
jgentry

 

[its_an_obsession]

glad to see you got a crenicichla. they are awesome fish and your gonna want some more after a while. first with the 45g, make sure the pike cant fit the severums completely in its mouth or they might be food. you should be alright as long as none of the fish are small enough for it to fit in its mouth.

what kind of SA fish in the 220g. depending on their size the pike could work well in there. they tend to be most aggressive towards other pike and are usually able to be kept with other SA cichlids. i have a 11" cr. sveni in with a 3" convict, 6" jack dempsey and some SD's and no problem. also just mixed in 4 3" firemouths and 3 3" tinfoil barbs with my 12" cr. lacustris and thats only in a 40g. and everyone is happy. so if you have SA cichlids its definitely a possibility to put your xingu I in the 220g. at the same time they can also be kept with many of the larger community fish.

now of course it doesnt always work but mine and most peoples experiences with pikes seems to be that they are aggressive but not really mean aggressive killers, like some CA cichlids.

post a stock list of your 220g to help see if it will work

alittle more info. if you do wanna change the 90 over to freshwater and mix in SA/CA cichlids. its best to do it when the fish are younger rather than older. this seems to have better results when putting aggressive fish together. always good to grow them up together.

 

[AU Chief]

I too picked up one of these little beauts at my LFS and so far he is very shy. He's currently doing a quartintine stint in my 20Long catfish tank until I decide where to relocate him too.

What's the min. tank size for these eventual little monsters?

I love the way he eats and fills his belly so full he might pop. This is my first pike so I'm excited to experience the awesomness that everyone else is always talking about.

 

[its_an_obsession]

congrats au chief... another crenicichlaholic in the making.

id suggest a minimum tank size of a 75 gallon tank. they are little piggies especially when their young. i always remember feeling like i had to control feeding them or they'd explode. lol.

pics of the new fish guys???

 

[Davey_8313]

Yeah, where's the pics guys?

 

[jgentry]

My stock list in the 220g is

13inch tiger oscar
9 inche female jd
5 inch EBJD
6 inch red severum
pair of 6 inch Geo altifrons
6 inch chocolate
pair of 8 inch Uaru's

SO my tank is pretty full and all the fish other then the jacks are not agressive at all. So I wouldn't expect it to work.

I'm trying to decide if I want to switch the 90g over. I try to post some pick of the little guy tonight after football.

Thanks for your help,
jgentry

 

[its_an_obsession]

i think there is some potential to mix him in the 220g. although i might let him grow a bit cuz the size difference is pretty big between him and the tiger oscar. id get him up to about 7 inches at least before putting him in that tank also. something to consider is its always worth a try putting him in the 220g and seeing how it works. put him in and it it looks like alot of trouble, back to the 45g until u switch over the 90g.

 

[perfect_prefect]

for sure give it a shot once it reaches about 7 inches. my guess is that it will fit in well with your tank. my sveni is king of his tank, but he hasnt gotten real aggressive towards anyone exept his gf. give him a place to hide in the 220 and you will have a great pike in a great home.

 

[jgentry]

Here are some pictures of the fish. Am I right that it's a Xingu I? I think it will be OK in the 45g for a month or 2 until I can decide what to do with it. I might try it in the 220 once it's 6 inches and be ready to move it incase of trouble. I'm suprised how much I like the little guy. It definately loves to eat. I've been feeding the severums flakes, bloodworms and beefheart and the pike ate a huge chunk of beefheart and was begging for more food. If all else fails I might have to setup the 90g for this guy, A really cool fish.

What cichlids have you guys successfully kept with these Xingu I's?

 

[perfect_prefect]

thats a good lookin juvi. bright lemon drop yellow. nice pick up. for sure let it get atleast 7 inches and go for it. looks xingu 1 to me.