New Pike

[Cichlidgeek]

Today I was given the rare opportunity to add another female cobra pike (Crenicichla sp. "Tapajos II") to my pack. Here is a photo of her in quarantine.
Cheers,
--Brian
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o193/Cichlidgeek/IMG_2648.jpg

[fischfan13]

Very Nice, Brian!!!

What's your male:female ratio?
Tank size?
Food?

[Cichlidgeek]

Very Nice, Brian!!!

What's your male:female ratio?
Tank size?
Food?

Thanks Bill.
125-gallon. 5 females, 1 male. NLS and HBH spirulina pellets as well as live earthworms, live grass shrimp, and feeder fishes of various types. Goal is to breed them eventually.

[deadhead]

Very Nice!

[BlondeFishGal]

Goal is to breed them eventually.

Nice Brian -- an article then for sure!

[Cichlidgeek]

Very Nice!
Thanks Kevin.

Nice Brian -- an article then for sure!
Thanks Alesia. If they breed I will surly write about it!! LOL :D

[deadhead]

Those guys must love earth worms Brian!!!!!!!!!!!!

[deadhead]

Really clean fish Brian...No hole in the Head no Lateral Line problem.....You must do a hell of a lot of water changes!

[Cichlidgeek]

Those guys must love earth worms Brian!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really clean fish Brian...No hole in the Head no Lateral Line problem.....You must do a hell of a lot of water changes!

Oh yes....earthworms don't last very long. I usually give them quite a lot when the ground is not so frozen and they're easily found. Right now, NLS pellets are holding them over well until the weather breaks.

As for HLLE, I am a firm believer that the disorder with pikes and other susceptible species (i.e., waroo) is more diet based than water quality based. Only a few Cichla (peacock bass) that I kept years ago ever suffered from the ailment in my care, and they were fed a horrible diet. I have no scientific proof per se, but my experience shows that a really well-rounded diet couple with basically clean water (nothing crazy) is the key to preventing HLLE in the first place. Just some thoughts :)

Thanks for the nice words!!

Here are some images from today. She is acclimatizing nicely to the quarantine tank and has already feasted on about a dozen and a half minnows.
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o193/Cichlidgeek/IMG_2655.jpg

[Scat]

Yech! Pike cichlids... why anyone would want these fish murdering slamis is beyond me.

By the way, when they breed I got dibs on half a dozen!! :runnningaround:

You need to post a shot of the entire tank. Are they seperated at all or do you just have a mass of PVC pipe in there for them to hide out in.

Are you using RO at all or just tap water? If tap water, how hard/soft is your tap water?

As for HLLE, I am a firm believer that the disorder with pikes and other susceptible species (i.e., waroo) is more diet based than water quality based. Only a few Cichla (peacock bass) that I kept years ago ever suffered from the ailment in my care, and they were fed a horrible diet. I have no scientific proof per se, but my experience shows that a really well-rounded diet couple with basically clean water (nothing crazy) is the key to preventing HLLE in the first place. Just some thoughts

While I agree that a well rounded diet and water quality are very important I tend to think that water chemistry plays a significant role. When's the last time you saw a fish which comes from naturally hard water develop HLLE? Ever see a Malawian Peacock with HLLE? How about a Texas Cichlid? Nearly every single specie that traditionaly suffers from HLLE comes from naturally soft waters; Crenicichla, Uaru, Astronotus, Hoplarchus, etc. And while an oscar that is fed nothing but goldfish and is kept in a 20 gallon tank with no water changes is likely going to develop HLLE, I've seen too many fish kept in high quality water and fed quality foods still develop HLLE for me to think that diet and water quality are the main contributing factors.

I've noticed with some of my Amazonian fish, when kept in my tap water, which is liquid rock, start to pit out ever so slightly. As soon as I hook up the RO unit they clear up within just a couple of weeks. I really think that the dissolved solids, minerals and heavy metals that may be in the water irritate and eventually errode the thin membrane that covers the sensory pores along a fish's side and face. The harder the water the faster and more severe the pitting.

I'd like to grab a couple of severely pitted fish and keep them in very soft water to see how they react over the course of several weeks.

[Cichlidgeek]

Mark,
Thank you for your input here. As always, I truly value your experience. Below is a photo of a Cichla pinima that I had for several years, growing him from a fingerling to just over 24 inches TL. Notice his severe pitting obviously.
His pitting was halted and slightly reversed after a drastic change in diet. He, and his tankmates obviously, were already getting 50%+ water changes three time weekly. The chemistry of the water is a bit sketchy, as I recall moderately soft with a pH of 6.5ish or so, but it's been several years now since I had them. Anyway, I am rambling......if I told you what my water change scheme is on the cobra pike you'd be frightened :D
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o193/Cichlidgeek/DSC00020.jpg

[Scat]

That fish has a bad case of hole-iosis!!

I'd think that moderately soft and a pH of 6.5 would be enough to stave off HLLE. Interesting.

What do you make of my observation that you simply don't see, or rather very rarely see HLLE outside of soft water, Amazonian fish?

Regarding water changes, nothing would suprise me anymore. I've got the Peas hooked up to an automated change system that adds almost 200% of the tank's volume on a daily basis.

Then again, if you're saying you never do changes then yes, that would surpise me!

[Cichlidgeek]

That fish has a bad case of hole-iosis!!

I'd think that moderately soft and a pH of 6.5 would be enough to stave off HLLE. Interesting.

What do you make of my observation that you simply don't see, or rather very rarely see HLLE outside of soft water, Amazonian fish?

Regarding water changes, nothing would suprise me anymore. I've got the Peas hooked up to an automated change system that adds almost 200% of the tank's volume on a daily basis.

Then again, if you're saying you never do changes then yes, that would surpise me!

If I do a water change on the pikes once every other month it's a lot. No joke, no BS. I know...crazy.

I agree with you 100% about the hard water fishes. Except for dovii and managuensis, and sometimes synspilus I never see HLLE in hard-water species. And never have I ever seen it in things like Cyphos or large hap-like fishes.

I have some of my own ideas regarding the triggering mechanism to get these fish to breed. Lot's of heat, no water changes, lot's of food.....then lower heat by way of many water changes and light feedings. I am working on it.

I have been offered three juvenile Cr. sp. "Atabapo II" (ladder pike) that were recently imported. I think I may try a color enhancement project with them. I don't want to do too much at a time though :D

Any pix of your lents???

[Cichlidgeek]

FINALLY!!!
She came out while I was snapping a photo!! Took all damn day to get these two crappy shots of her!!
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o193/Cichlidgeek/IMG_2673.jpg
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o193/Cichlidgeek/IMG_2677.jpg

[F8LBITE]

That's a sick fish dude! I will have some one day, the only thing that worries me about them is having to feed live but how do you avoid disease from feeders?

[Norbert]

I almost never click on topics relating to Crenicichla...just because every time I do, I end up wanting to go buy some :), beautiful fish.

[Cichlidgeek]

That's a sick fish dude! I will have some one day, the only thing that worries me about them is having to feed live but how do you avoid disease from feeders?
I am really picky about what live foods I give them. I use a lot of earthworms, and a wide assortment of feeder fishes. Living along the coast here allows me to have access to some very clean and very fresh small fishes of various species. If they look good then I feed them. I have had my share of problems over the years, but nothing more than any other fishkeeper.

I almost never click on topics relating to Crenicichla...just because every time I do, I end up wanting to go buy some :), beautiful fish.
LOL...thanks Paul.