dwarf crenicichla wallaceii

[sitra88]

i recently purchachsed five crenichicla wallaceii and placed them in a 29 gallon tank. I never realized how agressive they were until i found four of them dead. Now what i am wondering is did the surviving pike kill the other four. I moved him to another tank so he didnt get picked on by the apistos but come to find out he is the agressor. He killed my agassizi and one of my iniridae by ramming them in there side.

 

[apistodave]

Crenicichla are evil==look at their faces and the big teeth...

 

[Mike Wise]

You might have been able to keep 5 of the dwarf pikes in a 55 gallon tank if it were really densly planted, but never in just a 29!

 

[sitra88]

Crenicichla are evil==look at their faces and the big teeth...

lol.. well these are dwarfs and the males dont bigger than 4-5 inches and felaes are like 2-3 inches. Its funny there so mean yet i just got three more. But i moved them to a tank with some baby bass. They seem to be acting fine now but i assume its because the bass can kick their butts. :biggrin:

 

[sitra88]

yeah your right the 29 was to confined for them they each need their own space. I was hoping that they would pair up but unfortunately they didn't. I had a male left from the last batch and today i got another male and two females. I ma hoping that it works out this time around. If not its a learning experience.

 

[Mike Wise]

lol.. well these are dwarfs ...

Yes, they are dwarfs - for Pike cichlids, but not for what is considered a 'dwarf cichlid'. The ASG had a definition for dwarf cichlids: A dwarf cichlid is a small cichlid that does not exceed 4"/10cm in standard length and is suitable to be kept in a community of small fishes without damage to other members of the community tank and plantings (outside of breeding). Under this definition, dwarf pikes and Ivanacara species would be considered 'small cichlids'.

... I am hoping that it works out this time around. If not, it's a learning experience.

Yes, a very expensive learning experience.

 

[apistodave]

Adoketa are small cichlids--I have males at 5 inches

 

[sasikan]

wow those are big Adoketa (what are you feeding them) i was reading about them in the cichlid atlas which mentioned they max out at 8 to 10 centimeters. 10 centimeters is 4 inches are you sure they are 5 inches? i always wanted some but i did not think they got so big

 

[Mike Wise]

Mine also grew over 4"/10cm.

 

[dwarfpike]

Cr. wallacii (correct spelling) aren't the most aggressive dwarf pikes (ala Cr. compressiceps or Cr. 'Inridia dwarf') but they are not as mellow as say Cr. regani either.

There are (at least) 3 different species coming out of Colombia listed as 'Wallacei' ... Cr. wallacii, Cr. sp. 'orinico dwarf', and Cr. sp. 'Inirida dwarf'.

Based on the female in the upper left there, I'd say yours were indeed Cr. wallacii (her dorsal seems to be orange rimmed instead of red, and I don't see the bar across it like you would have in the two undescribed dwarves).

They are scrappy but fun fish, though as you can tell by my handle I might be a bit biased. Mine left the dwarf acaras (L. dorsigera) alone in a 40 breeder tank, but were scrappy towards each other (no deaths or even split fins, heavily driftwooded). Other than Cr. regani, most of the dwarf pikes should be in an at least 4' tank as Mr. Wise suggested due to their conspecific aggression.