All fish / Cichlidae

Striped Pike Cichlid

Crenicichla strigata

Also known as lugubria strigata, striped pike cichlid, strigata pike cichlid, crenicichla lugubris strigata, xingu pike cichlid, pike cichlid, クレニキクラ・ストリガータ, 条纹狗鱼慈鲷

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

This is a large, long-bodied pike cichlid. It has a big mouth and is olive to grey-brown with a dark stripe along the side, and juveniles show bold horizontal lines. Keepers of big predatory cichlids buy it for its size, its striking juvenile pattern and its alert hunting behaviour.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

35 cm

Temperature

25 to 30 °C

pH

5.5 to 7.2

Smallest tank

800 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair in a very large tank

Diet

Carnivore: whole fish, prawns, mussels, earthworms and large pellets once weaned

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Amazon basin in Brazil, including the Tocantins, Xingu and Tapajós, plus the Guianas

Breeding

It spawns on a cleared surface in a cave or under wood, and both parents guard the eggs and fry. Captive breeding is rare because you need a compatible adult pair and a very large tank.

Good to know

It can reach 40 cm or more and will swallow any tankmate that fits in its mouth. It is often confused with Crenicichla lugubris and C. marmorata, so trade labels are unreliable.