Predatory Fish for a Smaller Tank

[SerenityNow]

So I saw this old article on TFH on pocket-sized pikes. They mentioned Asian killifish, pike cichlids, needlefish, and a couple others. I was thinking of choosing one of these species for my new tank I'm planning. Could be anywhere from 30-55 gallons. (I might be getting a 60 gallon but I'm not sure.) Does anyone have experience with these species or have a better recommendation? I particularly like crenicichla compressiceps. Any ideas on how to stock such a tank would be much appreciated.

 

[DMD123]

crenicichla compressiceps would be pretty easy to get a hold of. I think Ive seen them at A Place For Pets.

From this old TFH article if you have sufficient room in the tank you could still keep a 'community' set up. http://www.tfhmagazine.com/details/articles/crenicichla-compressiceps-a-miniature-rogue-full-article.htm

When I had my 29g going I had almost considered an African tank. You can do quite a few "Tangs" with the right hiding spots and decor. Just another idea.

And of course there is always the Convict cichlid. :suspect: (No dont do that!)

 

[SerenityNow]

I still haven't been there. Maybe I'll visit this weekend.

What would make a good target fish for the crenicichla?

I'm not sure if I want an African tank. I guess I don't know enough about them.

And no convicts! :

 

[Addicted2CAs]

Nice thread. This is a tough one that requires a bit of thinking! I must second the smaller pike idea. The pike I had wasn't a dwarf and I didnt have him long but he was a beast of a hunter/killer. Not sure on the availability of these guys: Crenicichla regani But they look super good from just what google images is showing.

 

[SerenityNow]

I looked up pictures of the c. regani and they are cool looking. How big do they get?

I read that c. compressiceps can be adapted to hard and alkaline water. So that opens up a lot more possibilities for a community tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Place For Pets usually carries 1+ species of dwarf pike. I've purchased a couple from there. I'd give them a call to see what they got. I'll be searching for one as soon as I re home a Columbian Pike I'm raising.

 

[Madness]

Kevin up there does have a couple different types. I recently purchased a Dwarf Green Pike. Not a very cheap little guy either. http://diszhal.info/english/cichlids/en_Crenicichla_compressiceps.php

 

[Addicted2CAs]

I looked up pictures of the c. regani and they are cool looking. How big do they get?

I read that c. compressiceps can be adapted to hard and alkaline water. So that opens up a lot more possibilities for a community tank.

IME I have never had an issue with acclimating south americans to my water, which hovers around 7.8-8.0 ph with a GH of 8 and KH of 5. That being said I haven't kept any of the touchy species such as discus.

The average length I'm finding for those guys is 4".

 

[SerenityNow]

@madness I saw them on The Wet Spot's website and they were $20 for a 1.5" fish. I definitely couldn't afford more than 2 or 3.

@Addicted2CAs I don't want anything too difficult. From what I've seen the dwarf pikes aren't hard to keep, but I'm still wondering if I'm getting ahead of myself. My only tank has a betta, dwarf cories, a snail and a ghost shrimp. Easy stuff.

 

[Addicted2CAs]

I believe you could handle pikes. I kept a larger one for a little while and the only issue was, of course aggression, go figure lol Not sure on the dwarfs, however the ones I have seen in Madness's tanks have been chill from what I saw.

 

[SerenityNow]

OK, so theoretically, if I have a pair of either c. compressiceps or c. regani what else would could i stock my tank with? I love catfish, so what species do you guys think would be best?

DMD123 thinks I should keep more cichlids, lol, so what might make good tank mates for the pikes?

 

[DMD123]

Once you have an owner responsive fish like a cichlid you never will go back. So it comes down to the fish you already have.... do they get to go in the big tank? If so might not be able to put even dwarf pike in there.

 

[SerenityNow]

My betta is a pretty responsive little fish. I'm training him to eat off my finger. I love him! But he and the corydoras habrosus get their own tank.

 

[Addicted2CAs]

Once you have an owner responsive fish like a cichlid you never will go back. So it comes down to the fish you already have.... do they get to go in the big tank? If so might not be able to put even dwarf pike in there.

This is the truth! I get alot of people that don't understand why I have only 2 fish in a 230gal, (the umbee's) they are quite entertaining and interactive, I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Addicted2CAs]

My betta is a pretty responsive little fish. I'm training him to eat off my finger. I love him! But he and the corydoras habrosus get their own tank.

Same thing as the larger cichlids just on a much smaller level On another note, my lima shovel nose will come to the top and almost eat out of my hand. Pretty impressive since I have only had him a week lol.

If you want to look into catfish this site rocks: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/
I used it before I bought my lima to pick out the humongous cats from the small ones and find something in between.

 

[DMD123]

With the 55g you can opt for fish bigger than dwarf pikes. There are some nice fish out there that can get 6-8" or so that would work.

I had this pike for a while:

Most likely was this: Crenicichla sveni
http://pikecichlid.com/svenipage.html

Combine that with maybe a school of larger rainbows and a medium sized cat. Might even be able to keep a convict or firemouth with it. Hard to say... depends on the fish aggression level.

 

[SerenityNow]

That pike is pretty cool looking. Why didn't you keep it?

Which species of rainbow would you recommend? I have read that they are slow to mature. Does that refer only to color or size also?

 

[DMD123]

It was really mean toward a fish that was expensive so I put it in time out in the 29g. That tank at the time had a little convict int it named Spaz. He did not like her and even though she was twice his size he killed her in a day and a half of sharing the tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Beautiful color on that Pike D. I raised one too. Turned my tank into a species only tank. She got 16 inches.

 

[DMD123]

Beautiful color on that Pike D.

Thanks, it was pretty impressive considering she was still in the bag from the fish store. Her belly really colored up and she was a stunner. But mean, mean, mean for her size.