TankBud

Ringtail pike cichlid

Crenicichla saxatilis

Also known as Saxatilis pike, Ringtail pike, Ring tail pike

FreshwaterFish

Ringtail pike cichlid (Crenicichla saxatilis)
(c) Julien Renoult, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.2
Adult size
9.4 in
24 cm
Minimum tank
119 gal
450 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
Guianas coastal rivers

Overview

The ringtail pike cichlid is a spangled predator for a long tank with plenty of cover. It is a fish for a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

The ringtail pike cichlid has had a scientific name since 1758, when Linnaeus named it in the founding edition of modern zoological naming. That means this pike had its name decades before the United States existed.

Caring for the ringtail pike cichlid

Give a ringtail pike cichlid at least 119 gal (450 L). It needs length more than height, so choose a long tank. Add driftwood tangles, caves, robust plants and clear sightline breaks, so each fish has cover to defend its own patch.

Keep the water soft to neutral, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Keep it clean and well filtered. Feed meaty foods such as frozen fish, prawn and large sinking pellets.

It is an aggressive predator that hunts along the bottom and lower water. It will eat any fish small enough to swallow, so keep only large, robust tank mates. Keep a single fish or a pair introduced while young, since it holds a strict hierarchy of one.

It spawns in caves and pits. Breeding it in the aquarium is difficult.

Good to know

Crenicichla saxatilis is a pike cichlid of the family Cichlidae, and the type species of its genus. Its flanks are spangled, and a dark, ringed eyespot at the base of the tail gives it the name ringtail. It is also called the saxatilis pike.

In the wild

The ringtail pike cichlid patrols wood-lined creeks and rivers of the Guianas, on the Atlantic coast of South America. It hunts from cover and moves into the rivers as the dry season concentrates the water.

Common questions

What size tank does a ringtail pike cichlid need?

A ringtail pike cichlid needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a ringtail pike cichlid need?

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

What does a ringtail pike cichlid eat?

A ringtail pike cichlid is a predator that eats meaty foods. Feed it frozen fish, prawn and large sinking pellets.

How big does a ringtail pike cichlid get?

An adult ringtail pike cichlid reaches about 9.4 in (24 cm).

How does a ringtail pike cichlid breed?

Ringtail pike cichlids spawn in caves and pits. They are difficult to breed in the aquarium.

Related species