Crenicichla lepidota

Crenicichla lepidota is a South American cichlid whose long, cylindrical body resembles a pike. A dark band runs along its olive–gray body; just above the pectoral fin there is a dark eyespot ringed with a light color. Because it comes from southern Brazil and the Paraguay–Paraná basin, it tolerates cooler water than many tropical cichlids. It eats any fish that fits in its mouth and is tough toward its own kind.

• At least 250 liters and 120 cm of length for a single fish or a pair.
• Caves, pipes and spaces under roots; plenty of hiding places.
• Sand substrate; it does not rearrange the decor much but digs inside caves.
• A tight lid; a 30% water change weekly.

Carnivorous. Offer frozen mysis, shrimp, mussels and fish fillet; many individuals accept carnivore granules over time. Live feeder fish are not recommended.

An ambush predator; it often darts out of its hiding place to strike quickly. It is territorial toward similarly shaped fish that share the bottom zone.

Good companions: robust fish too large to fit in its mouth: large barbs, silver dollars, plecos, cichlids of similar size.

Avoid: small fish, shrimp, slow and long-finned species, other pike cichlids (in a small aquarium).