Spotted pike characin

Care at a glance

Overview

Pike characins are surface oriented hunters that need a long tank of at least 400 liters, a tightly sealed lid, and open swimming space up top. They are skittish and can dash into the glass when startled, and they are often tricky to settle onto aquarium food at first. They ignore fish too big to eat but will take any tankmate small enough to swallow.

In the wild

Hangs just under the surface in open water of rivers and flooded forest, often near the bank. Its long, slender body and pointed, tooth filled snout are built to ambush small fish from the top. It holds still near the surface, then lunges.

Good to know

Boulengerella maculata is an elongate, pike shaped predator reaching around 35 cm, scattered with dark spots toward the rear of the body. It belongs to the small South American family Ctenoluciidae. The narrow, beak like jaws are lined with fine teeth.

Common questions

Related species

• 

  Banded pike characin

  Boulengerella lateristriga

  10.2 in (26 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)

  10.2 in (26 cm)159 gal (600 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Red-tail pike characin

  Boulengerella cuvieri

  34.6 in (88 cm) · 528 gal (2,000 L)

  34.6 in (88 cm)528 gal (2,000 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Hujeta gar

  Ctenolucius hujeta

  9.8 in (25 cm) · 55 gal (210 L)

  9.8 in (25 cm)55 gal (210 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Blue hook silver dollar

  Myloplus aylan

  13.8 in (35 cm) · 170 gal (645 L)

  13.8 in (35 cm)170 gal (645 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Senegal bichir

  Polypterus senegalus

  13.8 in (35 cm) · 143 gal (540 L)

  13.8 in (35 cm)143 gal (540 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  West African bichir

  Polypterus retropinnis

  13.8 in (35 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)

  13.8 in (35 cm)53 gal (200 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)