All fish / Poeciliidae

Pike Livebearer

Belonesox belizanus

Also known as pike top minnow, pike killifish, pike topminnow, pike livebearer, belonesox, ベロネソックス, 食鱼鳉, 梭鱼胎鳉

A slender, pike-shaped livebearer with a long, toothy snout, greyish-brown to olive body and a dark spot at the tail base. It is kept by enthusiasts of predatory fish who enjoy its ambush hunting from cover near the surface.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

7 to 8.2

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Singly or one male with females in a large, well-planted tank

Diet

Carnivore: live fish, earthworms, insects; some accept frozen foods and pellets

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Central America: southern Mexico to Nicaragua and Costa Rica (Atlantic slope)

Breeding

Females give birth to large, well-developed fry every few weeks, with broods of 20 to 100 that can feed on small live foods straight away. Breeding is straightforward, but adults and siblings are cannibalistic, so fry need separating and dense plant cover.

Good to know

It will eat any fish that fits in its mouth and females can kill smaller males, so it is best kept alone or with similar-sized robust fish. It is an established invasive species in Florida, so never release it.