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Belted pike cichlid

Lugubria cincta

Also known as Crenicichla cincta

FreshwaterFish

Belted pike cichlid (Lugubria cincta)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.2
Adult size
10.2 in
26 cm
Minimum tank
159 gal
600 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Upper Amazon basin

Overview

The belted pike cichlid is a large, heavy-bodied pike cichlid that cruises and ambushes along the bottom. It needs serious space and suits a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The belted pike cichlid's genus name, Lugubria, comes from the Latin for mournful or gloomy. The name was first used for a dark-colored relative. It fits a shadowy, patient ambush hunter that spends much of its time lying in wait among sunken wood.

Caring for the belted pike cichlid

The belted pike cichlid grows big and patrols long distances, so give it at least 159 gal (600 L) with a long footprint. Lay a long, open floor of sand, backed by big driftwood and some rock for ambush cover. That matches its home far better than a cramped or heavily planted tank.

Aim for 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Feed meaty foods such as whole prawn, mussel, earthworms and large sinking pellets, and skip live feeders.

Keep one fish, or a carefully matched pair, and never a group. It is a predator that will eat any fish it can swallow. Its only realistic tank mates are large, armored catfish and other robust giants, so choose them with caution and give everyone cover.

It is a cave spawner that pairs off. Breeding it in the aquarium is hard.

Good to know

The belted pike cichlid belongs to the cichlid family. In a 2023 revision of the pike cichlids, the dusky lugubris group moved into a new genus, Lugubria. This species took the name cincta, Latin for belted, after its banded markings.

In the wild

The belted pike cichlid patrols the beaches, wood piles and drop-offs of large rivers in the upper Amazon basin. The water there is warm, soft and slightly acidic.

Common questions

What size tank does a belted pike cichlid need?

A belted pike cichlid needs at least 159 gal (600 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a belted pike cichlid need?

A belted pike cichlid is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.

What does a belted pike cichlid eat?

A belted pike cichlid eats meaty foods such as whole prawn, mussel, earthworms and large sinking pellets. Skip live feeders. It is a predator and will eat any fish it can swallow.

How big does a belted pike cichlid get?

An adult belted pike cichlid reaches about 10.2 in (26 cm).

How does a belted pike cichlid breed?

The belted pike cichlid is a cave spawner that pairs off. It is hard to breed in the aquarium.

Related species