Crenicichla zebrina WILD 20+CM

This rare beauty is reported from shallow rocky habitat in the Rio Ventuari, where it is thought to either prefer inaccessible microhabitats or be relatively uncommon. 

This elongate, rheophilic cichlid must be provided with specialised conditions if it is to thrive in the home aquarium; indeed, a requisite for their care is highly oxygenated, warm, soft water with plenty of current, and tight fitting coverslides are a must. The aquarium should be as spacious as possible in order to provide ample room for fish to set up their territories. A soft sand substrate will be beneficial, as many species like to dig a little now and again - although Pike cichlids do not generally tend to rearrange the decor anywhere near as much as many other cichlid families. It is important to furnish the tank with a plethora of hiding places and visual barriers, which will enable multiple specimens to be kept together. Tangles of driftwood, rocky caves and crevices, PVC or bamboo tubes (allow several per fish) etc will all be much appreciated. Hardy plants can usually be incorporated into the aquascape, but as some species do like to engage in a bit of digging, it may be prudent to opt for Java Fern and Anubias sp. which can be tied on and cultivated on the decor. Filtration should be efficient, with areas of fast water movement along with some quieter resting spots out of the current. Like other species that inhabit fresh running waters, these cichlids will not tolerate a build-up of nitrates within the aquarium and require excellent water conditions at all times if they are to prosper; regular partial water changes are essential.

Pike Cichlids have an ill-deserved reputation for being nasty. Whilst it is true that they are predatory (they have large protrusible mouths and will attempt to eat fish that are just a bit smaller than themselves) and most are highly territorially aggressive towards conspecifics, there are several ways of reducing the risk of violence in the aquarium. The first is to provide a multitude of visual barriers as described above; broken lines of sight will significantly reduce territorial aggression. Secondly, when purchasing your pike cichlids, buy a group of reasonable number that are all of the same size, and introduce them to the aquarium simultaneously. If tankmates are desired, ensure the tank is voluminous and companions are robust - eartheaters work well, as do large placid cichlids such as severums etc. bear in mind that if a pair forms and they show signs of wanting to spawn, aggression will heighten - and unless the tank is exceptionally spacious, the other fish may need rehoming for their own safety.