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

[fischfan13]

Very Nice, Brian!!!

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

[Cichlidgeek]

Originally Posted by fischfan13

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]

Originally Posted by Cichlidgeek

Goal is to breed them eventually.

Nice Brian -- an article then for sure!

[Cichlidgeek]

Originally Posted by deadhead

Very Nice!

Thanks Kevin.

Originally Posted by BlondeFishGal

Nice Brian -- an article then for sure!

Thanks Alesia. If they breed I will surly write about it!! LOL

[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]

Originally Posted by deadhead

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

Originally Posted by 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!

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.

[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!!

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.