Crenicichla strigata

Common Names:

Striped Pike Cichlid

Synonyms:

Crenicichla johanna strigata

Family:

Cichlidae

Category:

Cichlids

Distribution:

America - South; Rio Tocantins, Brazil

Main Ecosystem:

River; River

Temperament:

Predatory; Predator. Can only be kept with fish too big to swallow.

Diet:

Carnivore; Carnivore

Care:

Accepts large livefoods and meat-based frozen or freeze-dried foods. Large, covered tank with open swimming areas and shelters. Water quality must be good.

pH:

6.5 - 7.8

Temperature:

23°C - 27°C

73°F - 81°F

Hardness:

1 dH - 22 dH

Potential Size:

Male: 35cm (13.8")
Female: 35cm (13.8")

Water Region:

Middle, Bottom; Middle-Bottom

Activity:

Diurnal; Diurnal

Gender:

Females are more rounded in the belly, and have red on the belly when becoming ready to spawn. The red becomes more dark as the female becomes more fertile.

Breeding:

Substrate and cave spawners. Excellent parents. Will guard the fry with extreme prejudice. Very large aquarium needed, with plenty of hiding spaces and open areas. Male becomes extremely aggressive at breeding time, and may injure and kill the female in his attempts. Gestation period app 48 hours depending on the temp. Parents move the fry to pits.

Variants:

Comments:

As with most larger pike cichlids, they are very aggressive. And they have a large appetite. They will eat anything that will fit into their mouths. This includes fish that are as long as they are, as long as they can fit them into their mouths at the start. They will carry the partially eaten fish in their mouths for days, until they can completely consume it. They have no problems eating plecos that they can get the head in their mouths. A very large tank of 150 gals and more, is nee

Main Colours:

Green, Brown, Red

Markings:

Striped Horizontal

Mouth:

Normal

Tail:

Convex

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