Remarks:  The lenticulata pike cichlid is a large, predatory cichlid with an absolutely stunning coloration. Typically, they display a mostly green color that sometimes carries a blue tint in certain lighting that contrasts nicely with the red accents in their fins. Their eyes continue this contrast with being either red or orange in color. Across the lenticulata pike cichlid’s face and body are a multitude of black spots along with a series of thick, vertical black bars across their body. They also have a false eye spot just behind the gill plate as well as at the base of the caudal fin. These colors and markings come together to create a visage that some say is reminiscent of a species of trout.

  While the lenticulata pike cichlid is mostly known to be from the Rio Negro basin in Brazil, they have been reported to inhabit waterways in Colombia and Venezuela as well. No matter the exact location they are found in, what is common amongst all of the areas these pikes inhabit is the soft, acidic parameters of the water. Some areas are more tannin-stained than others and the populations of lenticulata pike cichlids that live in these heavily tannin-stained habitats have a red or orange body with bright red spots instead of the typical green and black. These color variants are rarely seen in the hobby and tend to carry a higher price due to their rarity. To keep these pike cichlids healthy in captivity and bring out their best colors, it is recommended to mimic these conditions to the best of one’s ability as well as keeping their water as clean as possible with frequent water changes.

  Pike cichlids are known to be large, predatory, and territorial fish. Their impressive size and aggressive demeanor allow them to command large areas of territory both in the wild and in the home aquarium. The lenticulata pike cichlid is known to be a particularly large and brutish species even for its genus as most individuals will attack other pikes and even other groups of fish that are similar in shape such as chalceus. Some are a bit more mellow, but it is best to plan for these fish to have high levels of aggression when keeping them. They do best when kept with large, robust, and tall bodied cichlids such as severums and uaru. Providing ample space as well as structure in the form of décor along with ensuring they are well fed on a high protein diet will help keep the pike’s aggression down. If cared for properly, the lenticulata pike cichlid can be a great addition to a large South American cichlid community tank or can be appreciated in a tank of its own.