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Two-Spot Pike CichlidPike Cichlid ~ Comb Pike CichlidFamily: Cichlidae Crenicichla lepidotaPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David BroughLatest Reader Comment - See More Man I have a pike cichlid and learned it's name from a great book Called TOPHERO SON OF SMILODON by W.W. Ni John Travolsa The long slender Two-Spot Pike Cichlid is a favorite, cichlid enthusiasts exclaim that "they are honestly the coolest looking fish"!Two-Spot Pike Cichlid Contents The Two-Spot Pike Cichlid comes from a family called Pike Cichlids that are varied in coloring and size. Having a torpedo shaped body and attractive color patterning, the Two-Spot Pike Cichlid looks great and adds a nice touch of variety to an aquarium. They are a manageable size at 7" but are voracious predators , preferring a diet of smaller live fish. Like other cichlids they get to know their owner, but also like some cichlids they can be territorial and need to be in their own tank unless the tank is larger. In a bigger aquarium they can be housed with fish of a different shape and color, and of a comparable size or larger. Cichlids of the 'Cichlasoma' genus, scavengers, and other large species such as Silver dollars and Tinfoil Barbs can be kept as tank mates if there is plenty of room. The Two-Spot Pike Cichlid is moderate to care for since they need to be in a larger tank with appropriate tank mates they cannot eat. They need plenty of places to hide when young or they will stress and can succumb to disease. As they get older, they will happily stay out in the open. Provide rocks and wood with plenty of nooks and crannies, along with lots of vegetation. They are quite adaptable and don't require special water chemistry, but it should not be too hard (up to 12° dH). They do need very clean water which will require regular changes of up to 50% weekly. Cover the aquarium at all times as these fish like to jump. For more Information on keeping this fish see: |
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Distribution: The Two-Spot Pike Cichlid, also called Pike Cichlid or Comb Pike Cichlid, was described by Heckel in 1840. This South American cichlid is very widespread. They are found in Paraguay drainage from Brazil to Argentina and is found on the Rio Grande do Sul coast of Brazil. They are found in the middle and lower parts of the Uruguay River in the parts that run through Brazil and Uruguay. Another place they are found is in the Amazon River basin in the Guarpore River drainage in Bolivia and Brazil. They are predatorial stalkers and wait under ledges for unsuspecting prey such as smaller fish and will also eat worms and insects.
Status: This species is not listed on the IUCN Red List.
Description: The Two-Spot Pike Cichlid is an elongated, torpedo shaped fish. There is a horizontal line that runs the length of the body from the mouth all the way down to the end tip of the tailfin. Above the line is a series of speckled splotches on a light olive-green to yellow background and below the line is a silver or beige color. They have a black spot in the area just behind their gills and one on the tail. The eyes are red. There are several different color morphs depending on the location where they are collected, some have a blue gray coloring. They can have accents of blue and red in the fin and in the speckles above the stripe. They live at least 10 years.
All cichlids share a common feature that some saltwater fish such as wrasses and parrotfish have and that is a well-developed pharyngeal set of teeth that are in the throat, along with their regular teeth. Cichlids have spiny rays in the back parts of the anal, dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins to help discourage predators. The front part of these fins are soft and perfect for precise positions and effortless movements in the water as opposed to fast swimming.
Cichlids have one nostril on each side while other fish have 2 sets. To sense "smells" in the water, they suck water in and expel the water right back out after being "sampled" for a short or longer time, depending on how much the cichlid needs to "smell" the water. This feature is shared by saltwater damselfish and cichlids are thought to be closely related.
Size - Weight: The Two-Spot Pike Cichlid grows to a length of 7" (18 cm).
Care and feeding: The Two-Spot Pike Cichlid is a carnivore that likes to be fed live fish. They can be fed feeder goldfish as adults and when smaller will eat Rosy Reds, Guppies, White Clouds and blackworms. They can be persuaded to eat cut up fish, shrimp, and pellets if they are kept with other pellet eating fish such as cichlids of the 'Cichlasoma' genus. Feed once to twice a day depending on age. All fish benefit from vitamins and supplements added to their foods.
A minimum 30 gallon aquarium is suggested. If kept with other fish the tank should be much larger, a 100 gallons or more. They do fine with moderate water movement and strong efficient filtration. They need plenty of places to hide when young or they will stress and can succumb to disease. As they get older, they will happily stay out in the open. Provide rocks and wood with plenty of nooks and crannies along with lots of vegetation, and more subdued lighting. They are quite adaptable and don't require special water chemistry, but it should not be too hard (up to 12° dH). They do need very clean water which will require regular changes of up to 50% weekly. Cover the aquarium at all times as these fish like to jump.
The Two-Spot Pike Cichlids are susceptible to typical fish ailments, especially if water is stale and of poor quality and oxygenation. They tend to be susceptible to illness when stressed, usually caused by not providing ample hiding places. One common problem is Ich. It can be treated with the elevation of the tank temperature to 86° F (30° C) for 3 days. If that does not cure the Ich, then the fish needs to be treated with copper (remove any water conditioners). Several copper based fish medications are available for Ich. Copper use must be kept within the proper levels, so be sure to follow the manufacturers suggestions. A copper test can be used to keep the proper levels. You can also combine increasing the temperature with an Ich medication treatment. Intestinal disease can be treated with metronidazol.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom: These fish will swim in the bottom area of the aquarium.
Acceptable Water Conditions: Hardness: 2-12° dH
Ph: 6.3 - 7.5
Temp: 73 - 82° F (23 - 28° C)
Social Behaviors: The Two-Spot Pike Cichlid is not a community fish and will eat any fish that is smaller than they are. They will even try to eat other fish that are the same size. They are extremely territorial and aggressive towards their own kind as well. They will kill each other even as juveniles. Make sure the tank is very large with individual hiding places for each fish if you try to keep a pair.
They will attack whatever fish happens to be in the tank with them if the tank under 40 gallons. If you want to put them with other fish make sure you have a very large tank and tank mates that are much larger. Some cichlids from the 'Cichlasoma' genera you can put with them are Cichlasoma tetracanthus, C. regani, C. alfari, C. hartwegi, C. loisellei, C. steindachneri, C. longimanus and C. rostratum. Scavengers and other large species such as Silver dollars and Tinfoil Barbs can also be kept as tank mates if there is plenty of room.
Sexual Differences: The male is larger and will have a darker olive-green coloration with shiny scales surrounding the spotting along its back, it lacks white in the dorsal fin, and has larger more elongated fins. The smaller female has more of a metallic sheen along with a black and white patterning in the dorsal fin, and the belly can be a light red to orange.
Breeding/Reproduction: The Two-Spot Pike Cichlid has been bred in captivity. To obtain a pair, start with six juveniles. As they are sexually dichromatic you can determine a male and female by their markings and color as they begin to mature. The females reach maturity at 5.5" and the males at 7". The pair will need very clean water and need to be conditioned to spawn. Provide rich protein foods and an environment with a pH of about 6 and the temperature at about 79° F (26° C). Their courting can be very violent and is instigated by the female, who scopes out a territory with a potential spawn site. It is best to remove other fish during this time.
They will dig out a pit under a roomy cave or piece of wood, spawning on the ceiling of the enclosure. The eggs are oval and whitish, and will hatch in 4 to 5 days depending on the temperature, 75 - 82 ° F (24 - 28 ° C). The female will care for the brood while the male defends the territory until the fry become free swimming, then the male takes the responsibility of raising the young. See more about cichlid breeding in: Breeding Freshwater Fish.
Availability: TheTwo-Spot Pike Cichlid, also called Pike Cichlid or Comb Pike Cichlid, is only sometimes available in fish stores, but is generally found online. They will run about $15.00 USD for juveniles and $60.00 USD for an 8" to 9" adult.
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