Pike Cichlid always hiding

[colbywebre47]

I was wondering if yall could help me get my pike cichlid out of hiding all the time. Ive been keeping all kinds of cichlids for a while now, and Ive never really had one act as scared as the one I have right now, which is a Zebra Pike Cichlid that is probably around the 10 inch mark in my 125 gallon tank. The only other fish in there with it is a small green phantom pleco, 1 5 inch geophagus, and 4 3 inch small geophagus,- which are currently sectioned off in my tank until they grow a little bigger. Meanwhile I have this 10 inch pike cichlid that is supposed to be the big dominant fish of the tank, but he hides away all the time like a little panzee. Never aggressive or anything, practically lives in the same cave as the pleco, which wouldn't fly with any other "aggressive" cichlid. Ive had a Jack dempsey, green terror, and oscar before, so I know how aggressive cichlids can act, but this one just doesn't care at all. He hides scared all the time, plastered against the side of wood or plant or something. Ive had him since he was 3 inches long and over a year and a half hes been in this tank. Hes kinda always been a scaredy pants. Never picked on by any of the other fish or anything. All of the other geos and pleco act like normal fish, always swimming around and hungry, but not this pike, just as scared as can be for no reason. \ Anyone have an explanation for this, or a possible fix? I do have a powerhead at the bottom, which he used to swim in, but doesn't anymore. I know powerheads and flow are good for them and I have plenty of it. So let me know if yall have any thoughts/ suggestions on this.
Feel free to ask questions if you need more info. Thanks yall.

 

[TClare]

I haven't kept any of the big pikes, but I have dwarf pikes and I believe that it is natural behaviour for them to hide under logs etc. a lot of the time. However, mine always do emerge from their hiding places when they see me and/or for food, and they are definitely not shy or timid, so I am not sure what is going on with yours. How long have you had him? Does he emerge for food? I am sure if you got another pike cichlid he would come out, but I don't recommend that, it could be very risky as he probably considers the entire tank his territory and they can be very aggressive with each other. Pike cichlids can be kept in groups, but they really need to grow up together I think. What is the rest of the tank like? If it is very open and bare he may not like coming out, perhaps adding more structure and shelter throughout the tank might help him to feel more secure? Or even adding more dither fish that are too big to be eaten perhaps.

 

[colbywebre47]

I haven't kept any of the big pikes, but I have dwarf pikes and I believe that it is natural behaviour for them to hide under logs etc. a lot of the time. However, mine always do emerge from their hiding places when they see me and/or for food, and they are definitely not shy or timid, so I am not sure what is going on with yours. How long have you had him? Does he emerge for food? I am sure if you got another pike cichlid he would come out, but I don't recommend that, it could be very risky as he probably considers the entire tank his territory and they can be very aggressive with each other. Pike cichlids can be kept in groups, but they really need to grow up together I think. What is the rest of the tank like? If it is very open and bare he may not like coming out, perhaps adding more structure and shelter throughout the tank might help him to feel more secure? Or even adding more dither fish that are too big to be eaten perhaps.

I have had him since for a year and a half, he was about 2-3 inches when I got him. He doesn't really come out for food I kinda have to drop it right in front of his cave, and he only eats frozen meats (tilapia, krill ,shrimp) I think I have plenty of cover, I have lots of live plants and driftwood. I tried the dither fish thing lol, I put some bigger buenos aires tetras in but he ate about 10 of them over the course of a month or so. I can't really add bigger dithers like silver dollars. I think I'm at my bio load maximum, the geos are gonna grow to be pretty big probably around 8-10 inches. One thing I was thinking of was significantly dimming my lights, he seems to swim around a bit in the morning when the lights are off/low. But other than that I'm stumped. He's not territorial at all either, the pleco legit lives in the same cave 2 inches from his face and he doesn't care at all.

 

[TClare]

I have had him since for a year and a half, he was about 2-3 inches when I got him. He doesn't really come out for food I kinda have to drop it right in front of his cave, and he only eats frozen meats (tilapia, krill ,shrimp) I think I have plenty of cover, I have lots of live plants and driftwood. I tried the dither fish thing lol, I put some bigger buenos aires tetras in but he ate about 10 of them over the course of a month or so. I can't really add bigger dithers like silver dollars. I think I'm at my bio load maximum, the geos are gonna grow to be pretty big probably around 8-10 inches. One thing I was thinking of was significantly dimming my lights, he seems to swim around a bit in the morning when the lights are off/low. But other than that I'm stumped. He's not territorial at all either, the pleco legit lives in the same cave 2 inches from his face and he doesn't care at all.

But he would be territorial with another pike cichlid I am sure. I do think that dimming the lights and providing some shade such as floating plants might help, as the tank does look quite bright, you could definitely try that. My dwarf pikes at first would only eat live or frozen foods, but now they will eat anything, I initially had them in a tank with other cichlids and I think they learned from them that dry food is food. They also never bothered any other fish, just occasionally would nip at the Geophagus when competing for food. The female spent most of her time hiding but always came out for food, while the male was out of his cave more often. But they each had a cave or shelter under wood where they would spend a lot of time. Now I have them in a tank on their own, as I am trying to breed them…

 

[colbywebre47]

But he would be territorial with another pike cichlid I am sure. I do think that dimming the lights and providing some shade such as floating plants might help, as the tank does look quite bright, you could definitely try that. My dwarf pikes at first would only eat live or frozen foods, but now they will eat anything, I initially had them in a tank with other cichlids and I think they learned from them that dry food is food. They also never bothered any other fish, just occasionally would nip at the Geophagus when competing for food. The female spent most of her time hiding but always came out for food, while the male was out of his cave more often. But they each had a cave or shelter under wood where they would spend a lot of time. Now I have them in a tank on their own, as I am trying to breed them…

I think a dimmer tank will help for sure Im gonna do that tomorrow. Good luck with your pikes, I know some of them, like the Crenicichla zebrina I have have never been tank bred before!