TankMatesTankMates
Sign in
Encyclopedia / Cichlids / Pike cichlid
★New · no ratings yetPicture coming

Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Pike cichlid

Crenicichla lepidota · Crenicichla lepidota, Lepidota pike, Little pike

Predatory.

Local price coming soon
· real AED shop prices, never conversions
20.9 cmAdult size ✓
22–28 °CTemperature ✓
6.3–7.5pH ✓
209 LSmallest tank ✓
Add to my tankCompare
Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • Pike cichlid eats animals up to about 8 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
Not recommended
  • Pike cichlid eats animals up to about 8 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
Not recommended
  • Pike cichlid eats animals up to about 8 cm. Black neon tetra only grows to 3.2 cm.
With conditions
  • Rift lake cichlids like electric yellow cichlid need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
  • Their pH needs don't quite meet (6.3–7.5 vs 7.7–8.6). Aim between the two and keep it steady.
With conditions
  • Rift lake cichlids like peacock cichlid need hard, alkaline water and a busy, cichlid-only tank.
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: exactly 7.5.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

237 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓2–12 dGH
Group size ?Can live alone
Temperament ✓Semi-aggressive
Swims at ✓Bottom
Care level ?Moderate
Diet Carnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 5–8 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Predatory. Best kept as a pair or with robust, larger fish; small fish will be eaten.

  • cave
  • wood

Food

Frozen fish, shrimp, worms and some pellets.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males are much larger with longer fins. Females are rounder, with a brighter (pink) belly and a black-and-white pattern on the dorsal fin.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Cave spawner (pair) · Hard

Cave spawner: eggs are laid on the ceiling of a cave and guarded aggressively by both parents; fry may be moved to a pit.

Pairing

Raise 6 juveniles together and let a pair form, then remove the rest or provide a very large tank.

Setup

A 250 L tank with a sponge or gentle filter, flat stones, clay caves or flowerpots, and a sand bed.

What starts it

Strong conditioning on frozen and live food plus a large water change with slightly warmer water.

Eggs

Up to about 1,000 eggs on a cave ceiling; fry hatch after 4-5 days and swim free after 11-13 days. Breeding water: pH 6.5-7.0, 2-6 dH, 24-28 °C.

Raising the fry

Both parents guard the brood; feed fry newly hatched brine shrimp and finely crushed flake.

Common mistakes
  • A tank too small for the pair's territory
  • Tankmates the pair will chase
  • Removing the parents too early
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionSouth America – Paraguay, Paraná & Uruguay basins
Rivers and lakesRío Paraguay, Paraná and Uruguay basins
HabitatRivers and streams
Native rangeAbout 1,000 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the pike cichlid

A slim, torpedo-shaped ambush predator from southern South America with a dark stripe from snout to tail and a black spot near the gill cover and tail base. Hides among caves and wood.

Heckel described this pike cichlid in 1840. It is one of the southernmost pike cichlids, living in the Paraguay, Paraná and Uruguay river systems. Like other Crenicichla, it is a long-bodied hunter that lies in wait for small fish.

First described by Johann J. Heckel in 1840.

  • It has a long, slender body.
  • It is a predator of small fish.
  • It tolerates cooler water.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources