All fish / Cichlidae

Yaha pike cichlid

Crenicichla yaha

Also known as pike cichlid, yaha pike cichlid, crenicichla yaha, iguazu pike cichlid

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

A slender, mid-sized pike cichlid from the Iguazú region of northern Argentina, with a long dorsal fin, a large mouth and dark markings on a brownish body. It belongs to a group of rheophilic species from the Iguazú and Uruguay systems and is kept mainly by specialists who want rare wild-type Crenicichla.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

14 cm

Temperature

18 to 25 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Single fish or a bonded pair

Diet

Carnivore: insect larvae, shrimp, bloodworm, small fish and quality sinking pellets

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Argentina: Arroyo Urugua-í and Río Iguazú basins (Misiones)

Breeding

Like other pike cichlids it is a cave spawner, with the female guarding eggs in a cave while the male defends the territory. Captive breeding is rarely reported, as the species is seldom available, but conditions for related Argentine pike cichlids should work.

Good to know

Very territorial and will eat any fish small enough to swallow, so keep with robust tankmates of similar size. As a subtropical stream fish it needs cooler, well oxygenated water with good flow, and it is rarely seen in the trade.