All fish / Cichlidae

Blue-backed Pike Cichlid

Crenicichla cyanonotus

Also known as blueback pike cichlid, blue back pike cichlid, cyanonotus pike cichlid, crenicichla cyanonota, クレニキクラ・シアノノトゥス, 蓝背狗头

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A slender, torpedo-like pike cichlid with a dark lateral stripe, a bluish sheen on the back and a large mouth built for ambushing prey. Enthusiasts keep it for its predatory behaviour, subtle colours and the way pairs care for their young.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

20 cm

Temperature

24 to 29 °C

pH

5.5 to 7.2

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair

Diet

Carnivore: small fish, prawns, earthworms, mussel and good-quality sinking carnivore pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and western Brazil

Breeding

A cave spawner that lays its eggs on the ceiling of a cave or under a root, with both parents guarding the eggs and free-swimming fry. Breeding is achievable in a large tank once a compatible pair has formed, but the male can turn on an unready female.

Good to know

This is a predator that will eat any fish small enough to swallow and can be very aggressive towards its own kind, so give it plenty of cover and choose tankmates with care. Wild fish are rarely seen in the trade and can be confused with other Crenicichla species.