Atapabo Red Pike

fish description – Atabapo Red Pike Cichlid Care Guide ($Crenicichla\ lugubris$)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Crenicichla\ lugubris$ (often traded as C. atabapoensis)
Common Name	Atabapo Red Pike Cichlid, Red Pike Cichlid
Origin	Orinoco River and tributaries (South America: Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil)
Adult Size	14–16 inches (35–40 cm)
Temperament	Extremely Aggressive, Highly Predatory, Solitary
Lifespan	10+ years
Care Level	Expert (due to aggression, size, and need for specialized diet)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A massive, elongated, torpedo-shaped cichlid resembling a freshwater Barracuda or Pike. It features striking red, orange, or yellow body coloration, often with black spotting on the head and a distinct spot (ocellus) on the caudal fin base.
• Coloration: Varies, but the Atabapo strains are famous for their vivid red/orange hues across the body. Males are larger, more robust, and may have a white or spotted stripe on the dorsal fin. Females are smaller and sometimes display more red/pink on the flanks.
• Fins: Short, strong fins that aid in fast lunging and maneuvering.
• Behavior: A classic ambush predator that spends time lurking in cover. They are intensely territorial and highly aggressive toward almost all other fish, especially their own species. They are jumpers and require a secure lid.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons (680 liters) is the absolute minimum for a single adult. A 250–300 gallon tank or larger is necessary for a breeding pair. Tanks must be long (6–8 feet) to allow for swimming runs.
• Schooling: Must be kept as a solitary specimen in a species-only tank. Introducing tank mates is extremely risky, even in large aquariums.
• Temperature: Tropical range: $75^\circ$–$84^\circ\text{F}\ (24^\circ$–$29^\circ\mathrm{C})$ (ideally $80^\circ\text{F}$).
• pH Level: Soft, acidic blackwater is highly preferred: 5.5 to 6.5. They require massive filtration and pristine water quality (low nitrates). Strong, yet controllable, water flow is recommended to emulate their river habitat.
• Aquascape: Requires a soft sand substrate (essential for digging). Decorate with heavy driftwood tangles and secure rockwork to create caves and numerous hiding spots for lurking. Avoid live plants unless they are exceptionally robust and well-anchored, as the fish will uproot them.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Atabapo Red Pike Cichlid is a dedicated carnivore (piscivore).

• Staple Diet: Should consist primarily of high-quality frozen and fresh meaty foods. Examples include chopped fish fillet (tilapia, white fish), krill, prawns, and earthworms.
• Supplementation: High-quality cichlid pellets or sticks should be offered to provide necessary vitamins, but this fish may be difficult to wean off live/frozen foods. Avoid feeder fish (risk of disease).
• Schedule: Feed once daily, or every other day for large adults. They hunt by sight and lunge quickly at food.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Extremely high aggression and predatory instinct. Will consume any fish that fits in its mouth, and may seriously wound or kill larger, similar-sized fish. Best kept in a species-only tank.
• Good Tank Mates: None recommended. If attempted in a colossal tank (300+ gallons), tank mates must be fast, aggressive, and too large to swallow, such as Oscars (large adults), Bichirs, or large Catfish (e.g., Raphael Catfish).