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Encyclopedia / Cichlids / Regan's pike cichlid
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Variations

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Regan's pike cichlid

Wallaciia regani · Crenicichla regani, Regan's pike, Regani pike, Pike cichlid regani

Predatory but pairs well in a big tank; will eat small fish.

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10.5 cmBody length, without tail ✓
24–27 °CTemperature ✓
6–7.2pH ✓
160 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • Regan's pike cichlid eats animals up to about 10 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
Not recommended
  • Regan's pike cichlid eats animals up to about 10 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
Not recommended
  • Regan's pike cichlid eats animals up to about 10 cm. Black neon tetra only grows to 3.2 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow pH range suits both: 7–7.2.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

117 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 ✓3–12 dGH
Group size ✓2 or more
Temperament ✓Semi-aggressive
Swims at ?Bottom
Care level ?Hard
Diet Carnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 5–8 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Predatory but pairs well in a big tank; will eat small fish.

  • cave
  • wood

Food

Frozen fish, prawns and large worms.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Only females have eye-spots (ocelli) in the dorsal fin; males grow larger.

Health

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

Breeding

Cave spawner (pair) · Hard

Cave spawner. The female tends the eggs and newly hatched fry in the cave; once the fry swim free the male joins in, guarding the territory. Pairs may stay together for years.

Pairing

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

Setup

A 300 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 100 eggs on the cave ceiling; hatch in 3-4 days, fry free-swimming several days later.

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

RegionBrazil – Amazon basin
Rivers and lakesAmazon tributaries in Brazil
HabitatClear streams with sandy bottoms
Native rangeAbout 1,200 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the regan's pike cichlid

A dwarf pike cichlid (under about 10 cm) from the central Amazon, named after the British ichthyologist Charles Tate Regan. Elongate and boldly marked; females carry eye-spots in the dorsal fin.

Dutch ichthyologist Alex Ploeg described this dwarf pike cichlid in 1989, honouring C. Tate Regan. It is small enough for medium-sized aquariums, unlike its giant relatives. Females are often more colourful than males, with a red belly when breeding.

First described by Alex Ploeg in 1989. Named for Named after British ichthyologist C. Tate Regan.

  • It is one of the smallest pike cichlids.
  • Females show a red belly.
  • It lives in clear streams.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources