Striped Pike Cichlid

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Scientific Name

Crenicichla strigata

Min. Tank Size

260 gallons

Personality

Can be aggressive

Temperature

74-80°F

pH

6.0-7.0/5-18°dGH

Size

16"

Diet

Carnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Best kept in a species tank or with other large Cichlids too large to be considered food.

Striped Pike Cichlid

One of the most popular Pike Cichlids in the aquarium hobby, the Striped Pike Cichlid is named for the dark lateral stripe running along its body from its nose through the caudal fin. Many specimens also exhibit a dark spot centered on the stripe at the base of the caudal fin. The overall body coloration of this species may vary but possible colors include green, brown and red. Females of the species tend to develop red coloration on their bellies when they are ready to spawn. The Striped Pike Cichlid is native to the lower Amazon River basin and can be found in parts of Guyana and Brazil. These fish tend to inhabit streams and tributaries rather than the river itself.

Tank Set-Up

In the home aquarium, these fish prefer sandy substrate because they tend to dig around and gravel is more difficult to move. The tank should be decorated with plenty of rockwork to provide hiding places and, if you intend to use live plants, they should be potted or rooted to bogwood so they cannot be uprooted. Like most Pike Cichlids, this species can be very aggressive and is best kept in a species tank or with other large Cichlids.

Feeding

In the wild, these fish are carnivores and thus should be fed a varied diet of large live foods, frozen food and meaty Cichlid pellets. Offer your Striped Pike Cichlids fresh vegetables or a Spirulina-based pellet on occasion to ensure that their dietary needs are met. A varied diet is key to promoting optimum health and condition.

Breeding

There are few reports of successful spawnings of this fish in captivity but they are believed to follow similar spawning procedures as other Pike Cichlids. Like many Pike Cichlids, Striped Pike Cichlids are cave spawners and will guard their eggs fiercely until they hatch. After hatching, the fry may be moved to pits dug into the substrate where the parent fish will continue to guard them for some time as they mature.