TankBud

Halfbanded pike cichlid

Crenicichla geayi

Also known as Geay's pike cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Halfbanded pike cichlid (Crenicichla geayi)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.2
Adult size
8.7 in
22 cm
Minimum tank
106 gal
400 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
Orinoco llanos rivers

Overview

The halfbanded pike cichlid is a medium-sized pike cichlid that hunts from cover in the lower water. It is aggressive, so it is not a fish for a first tank.

Did you know

The halfbanded pike cichlid's species name, geayi, honors Francois Geay, a French naturalist and collector. His expeditions through Venezuela and the Guianas sent home many fishes later named by museum scientists in Europe.

Caring for the halfbanded pike cichlid

Give a halfbanded pike cichlid a tank of at least 106 gal (400 L). Lay a sandy floor and add driftwood, roots, rock and some plants that form thickets it can lurk in. That cover breaks up sight lines, gives it hiding spots and keeps it from dominating the whole tank. It also lets a pair set up without constant fighting.

Give it soft water, slightly acidic to neutral, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Keep the water clean and gently moving. Feed meaty foods such as pellets, frozen prawn, mysis and earthworm. Avoid relying on live feeder fish, which carry disease and offer poor nutrition.

Keep it singly or as a bonded pair. It is a predatory ambush hunter and will eat any fish small enough to fit in its mouth. Choose tank mates that are clearly too large to swallow.

If you want a pair, raise a group of youngsters and let one form. It is a cave or crevice spawner, and both parents guard the eggs and fry. Breeding is considered difficult.

Good to know

Crenicichla geayi is a pike cichlid in the family Cichlidae, with an elongated body and a large mouth. Short flank bars beneath a dark horizontal stripe give it its common name.

In the wild

The halfbanded pike cichlid lives in the weedy channels and slow margins of the Orinoco basin. It is found in warm, soft water over sand and leaf-strewn bottoms, with plenty of submerged cover.

Common questions

What size tank does a halfbanded pike cichlid need?

A halfbanded pike cichlid needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a halfbanded pike cichlid need?

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

What does a halfbanded pike cichlid eat?

A halfbanded pike cichlid eats meaty foods such as pellets, frozen prawn, mysis and earthworm. Avoid relying on live feeder fish, which carry disease and offer poor nutrition.

How big does a halfbanded pike cichlid get?

An adult halfbanded pike cichlid reaches about 8.7 in (22 cm).

How does a halfbanded pike cichlid breed?

The halfbanded pike cichlid is a cave or crevice spawner, and both parents guard the eggs and fry. Breeding is considered difficult. To get a pair, raise a group of youngsters and let one form.

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