TankBud

Dwarf pike cichlid

Crenicichla regani

Also known as Regan's dwarf pike

FreshwaterFish

Dwarf pike cichlid (Crenicichla regani)
Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
6.0–7.2
Adult size
4.7 in
12 cm
Minimum tank
40 gal
150 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Amazon basin, Brazil (Trombetas/Tapajos rivers and tributaries)

Overview

The dwarf pike cichlid is a small, bottom-dwelling predator for a soft-water tank with plenty of cover. It is not a beginner's fish, though not a hard one either.

Did you know

Crenicichla regani is the most peaceful of the dwarf pike cichlids and one of the easier ones to keep. Even so, its predator instinct never switches off. It holds still in a cave or among the wood, then darts out to grab any small fish or shrimp that wanders too close.

Caring for the dwarf pike cichlid

Give the dwarf pike cichlid a long tank of at least 40 gal (150 L). It needs more floor space than its length suggests, so aim for a footprint near 100 cm long. Use a soft sand substrate with plenty of caves, driftwood, rockwork and a few PVC tubes for cover.

Keep the water warm and soft, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.2. Hold the hardness low, up to about 10 to 12 dGH. It shows its best color under dim lighting with lots of places to hide. Feed meaty foods such as frozen and live items, and wean it onto quality pellets where you can.

Keep a single fish, a proven compatible pair, or a large female-skewed group of ten or more to spread out aggression. Random pairs of its own kind turn territorial. It eats anything small enough to swallow, so skip nano fish and dwarf shrimp. Pick robust soft-water tank mates of similar or larger size that hold the upper levels.

Males grow larger than females, which stay at around 8 to 10 cm. It is a cave spawner, and both parents guard the eggs and fry. Breeding it is a moderate challenge.

Good to know

The dwarf pike cichlid, Crenicichla regani, belongs to the family Cichlidae.

In the wild

The dwarf pike cichlid comes from the Amazon basin in Brazil, in the Trombetas and Tapajos rivers and their tributaries. These are soft, slightly acidic blackwater habitats, stained brown with tannins and full of submerged wood and leaf cover along the bottom.

Common questions

What size tank does a dwarf pike cichlid need?

A dwarf pike cichlid needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a dwarf pike cichlid need?

A dwarf pike cichlid is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.2.

What does a dwarf pike cichlid eat?

A dwarf pike cichlid eats meaty foods, such as frozen and live items. Where you can, wean it onto quality pellets.

How big does a dwarf pike cichlid get?

An adult dwarf pike cichlid reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).

How can you tell a male dwarf pike cichlid from a female?

Males are the larger sex. Females stay smaller, at around 8 to 10 cm.

How does a dwarf pike cichlid breed?

Dwarf pike cichlids are cave spawners. Both parents guard the eggs and fry, and breeding is a moderate challenge.

Related species