TankBud

Sven's pike cichlid

Crenicichla sveni

Also known as Sveni pike

FreshwaterFish

Sven's pike cichlid (Crenicichla sveni)

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
5.5–7.2
Adult size
9.8 in
25 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
Orinoco basin

Overview

Sven's pike cichlid is a genuine predator for a large, well-furnished tank. It suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

Sven's pike cichlid honors the Swedish cichlid specialist Sven Kullander, a leading student of pike cichlids in his own right. One authority on the group ended up with his name on a fish described by another.

Caring for the Sven's pike cichlid

Keep one Sven's pike cichlid or a proven pair, and give a single adult at least 119 gal (450 L). It hunts along the bottom from cover, so provide bogwood, roots and rock to divide up territories, with plenty of shade.

Keep the flow moderate and the water soft to neutral, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.2. Feed meaty foods such as earthworms, prawn and good pellets rather than live feeder fish.

Sven's pike cichlid is aggressive, and anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be eaten. Choose robust, similarly sized tank mates with real care, and give everyone room and line-of-sight breaks.

It is a biparental substrate spawner that hides its eggs in a cave or crevice. Breeding it in the aquarium is hard.

Good to know

Sven's pike cichlid is a medium-sized pike cichlid of the Crenicichla lugubris group. Guido Ploeg described it in 1991.

In the wild

Sven's pike cichlid comes from the Orinoco basin, in the slow tributaries and flooded margins of the llanos across Venezuela and Colombia. It lives among submerged roots and leaf litter in warm, soft to neutral water.

Common questions

What size tank does a Sven's pike cichlid need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Sven's pike cichlid need?

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

What does a Sven's pike cichlid eat?

Sven's pike cichlid eats meaty foods such as earthworms, prawn and good pellets. Skip live feeder fish.

How big does a Sven's pike cichlid get?

An adult Sven's pike cichlid reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).

How does a Sven's pike cichlid breed?

Sven's pike cichlid is a biparental substrate spawner that hides its eggs in a cave or crevice. Breeding it in the aquarium is hard.

Related species