TankBud

Red-tail pike characin

Boulengerella cuvieri

Also known as Pirapucu, Cuvier's pike characin

FreshwaterFish

Red-tail pike characin (Boulengerella cuvieri)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
5.5–7.2
Adult size
34.6 in
88 cm
Minimum tank
528 gal
2,000 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Top
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Ctenoluciidae
Origin
Amazon, Tocantins, and Orinoco basins

Overview

The red-tail pike characin is the giant of the pike characins, a slim, fast surface predator. It belongs only with experienced keepers who can house a fish of its size.

Did you know

The red-tail pike characin starts life as a small, harmless-looking juvenile in dealer tanks. It grows into a slender surface hunter of several kilograms.

Caring for the red-tail pike characin

The red-tail pike characin needs pond-scale water, at least 528 gal (2,000 L). The tank has to be long and broad, with a lot of open swimming room at the top and only sparse decor. It is nervous and very fast, and it can injure its snout bolting into the glass or a loose lid. Give it a firm, secure cover and calm surroundings.

Keep the water warm, very clean and well oxygenated, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) with a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Feed large meaty foods such as whole fish, prawns and earthworms.

It cruises just under the surface and will eat any tank mate it can fit in its mouth. Keep it alone or with equally large, robust fish, and never with anything it could swallow. It has not been bred in aquaria.

Good to know

Boulengerella cuvieri is known in Brazil as the pirapucu or bicuda. It belongs to the pike characin family Ctenoluciidae. Its body is drawn out into a long, muscular cylinder with a beak-like snout, built for short bursts of speed. All specimens are wild caught, and its adult size keeps it firmly a public-aquarium and specialist fish.

In the wild

The red-tail pike characin lives in the open surface waters of large rivers across the Amazon, Tocantins and Orinoco basins. It hangs in the current and ambushes smaller fish. It ranges through soft to moderately soft water rather than extreme blackwater.

Common questions

What size tank does a red-tail pike characin need?

A red-tail pike characin needs at least 528 gal (2,000 L). It spends most of its time in the top.

What temperature and pH does a red-tail pike characin need?

A red-tail pike characin is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.2.

What does a red-tail pike characin eat?

A red-tail pike characin eats large meaty foods such as whole fish, prawns and earthworms. It will also eat any tank mate it can fit in its mouth.

How big does a red-tail pike characin get?

An adult red-tail pike characin reaches about 34.6 in (88 cm).

Related species