Orinoco Dwarf Pike Cichlid

Trying to find out more information about the Orinoco Dwarf Pike Cichlid. I am looking at stock for my new 55 gallon setup. Has anyone every kept the fish?

 

Haven kept them but groups are usually best for most Crenincichla species. Gets to about 3-4 inches.

 

Haven kept them but groups are usually best for most Crenincichla species. Gets to about 3-4 inches.

A very interesting looking fish. Would say five be too much for a 55 gallon dirted planted aquarium?

 

A very interesting looking fish. Would say five be too much for a 55 gallon dirted planted aquarium?

Reading over what I said, im wrong. Dont keep a group. At most a pair..

Iḿ probably confusing these species with a different species.

 

Reading over what I said, im wrong. Dont keep a group. At most a pair..

Iḿ probably confusing these species with a different species.

I like that better, I would rather have only a couple. Thanks for the quick reply.

 

The info in the link said to keep in groups. Just saying in case you missed it.

 

The info in the link said to keep in groups. Just saying in case you missed it.

How many in a group, I would guess at least 5.

 

In a 55 I would recommend a trio. One male to service two females. IME, They do not live in groups, the females select/build a cave and stay there, even when not breeding. Two males in a 55 will end up with one live and one dead. Or two beat all to heck all the time if they are too evenly matched.

Males will reach 6-7 inches, females about 5. Dwarf Pikes are a little different in their behavior from the "regular" size, but they still eat fish. In the wild their primary diet is Apistogramma, I believe.

 

Well drat. No wonder we can't find any Apistogramma.

Nice read:

Dwarf Pike Cichlids

Males will reach 6-7 inches, females about 5. Dwarf Pikes are a little different in their behavior from the "regular" size, but they still eat fish. In the wild their primary diet is Apistogramma, I believe.

 

In a 55 I would recommend a trio. One male to service two females. IME, They do not live in groups, the females select/build a cave and stay there, even when not breeding. Two males in a 55 will end up with one live and one dead. Or two beat all to heck all the time if they are too evenly matched.

Males will reach 6-7 inches, females about 5. Dwarf Pikes are a little different in their behavior from the "regular" size, but they still eat fish. In the wild their primary diet is Apistogramma, I believe.

How are they sexed? If I do order them can I order 1 male and two females?

 

Easily sexed, males have much longer, more pointed dorsal fin, and females usually have round, pink bellies. Markings are also very different between the sexes, they usually aren't hard to sex at all. A request for a trio should be possible. The one species that is the exception to virtually all the Dwarf Pike rules (usually in a bad way) is Crenicichla compressiceps. It is a very unique fish, but quite difficult to keep.

That linked article was written by Vin Cutty, who had more knowledge of Pikes, large and small, than anyone in the hobby (he has since moved on to other subjects). There was an archived site where he discussed almost every known species. If you want to learn about Pike Cichlids, I highly recommend reading anything he wrote about them.

 

Easily sexed, males have much longer, more pointed dorsal fin, and females usually have round, pink bellies. Markings are also very different between the sexes, they usually aren't hard to sex at all. A request for a trio should be possible. The one species that is the exception to virtually all the Dwarf Pike rules (usually in a bad way) is Crenicichla compressiceps. It is a very unique fish, but quite difficult to keep.

Thank you for your reply. Once I get my 55 gallon tank setup, dirted, planted, etc I plan on waiting for at least a couple of months to cycle and let it age before adding stock. I haven't decided what that will be. I do already have six albino cories that have been in my 29 gallon for two years now, so they will go into the 55 gallon first. Then I might do angels or something else just hadn't made up my mind.

 

From what I read angels might not be the best mix due to the pike energy level.

Thank you for your reply. Once I get my 55 gallon tank setup, dirted, planted, etc I plan on waiting for at least a couple of months to cycle and let it age before adding stock. I haven't decided what that will be. I do already have six albino cories that have been in my 29 gallon for two years now, so they will go into the 55 gallon first. Then I might do angels or something else just hadn't made up my mind.

 

If I go with angels only or whatever I go with in the tank for the centerpiece and the rest of the stock around that, I will be asking here and doing research long before I do stock it to make sure everything goes together peacefully, and environmentally compatible.