All fish / Osphronemidae

Pikehead

Luciocephalus pulcher

Also known as pike head, pikehead gourami, pike-head, crocodile fish, pikehead fish, ルキオケファルス・プルケール, ikan kepala ular, 鳄鱼鱼, 尖嘴鳄

A slender, pike-like labyrinth fish with a long pointed head, a hugely protrusible mouth and a brown body marked by a dark lengthwise stripe edged with pale lines. It hovers motionless near the surface among plants before striking at prey, and is kept by specialists who enjoy unusual blackwater predators.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

18 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

4 to 6.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a small group in a species tank

Diet

Carnivore: live small fish, shrimp and insects; some accept frozen foods with patience

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo and Bangka/Belitung

Breeding

It is a paternal mouthbrooder that produces a small number of large eggs, which the male carries until the fry are well developed. Breeding in captivity is rare and very hard to achieve.

Good to know

Needs soft, acidic, clean blackwater and usually live food, and it eats any fish small enough to swallow. It is nervous and jumps readily, so a tight lid and floating cover are essential.