Pied pike

Pied pike, scientific name Luciosoma trinema, belongs to the family Cyprinidae (Cyprinidae). Comes from Southeast Asia. It is found in the river systems of the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan (Borneo). Inhabits areas of rivers with dense aquatic vegetation, hiding among fallen leaves and snags.

Description

Adult individuals reach a length of up to 25 cm. The fish has an elongated swift body. The fins are shifted closer to the tail, which allows the Pike to make rapid jerks for prey. The pelvic fins are distinguished by long filiform first rays. The body pattern consists of a wide black stripe stretching along the lateral line, below which there are six parallel dots on the abdomen.

Brief information:

• The volume of the aquarium – from 500 liters.
• Temperature – 23-27°C
• Value pH — 6.5–7.0
• Water hardness – 3–10 dKH
• Substrate type – any
• Lighting – subdued
• Brackish water – no
• Water movement – light or moderate
• The size of the fish is up to 25 cm.
• Food – mostly live, frozen food
• Temperament – conditionally peaceful fish
• Content alone or in a group

Behavior and Compatibility

Despite its predatory disposition, it is a relatively peaceful fish, posing a threat only to very small species, such as Rasboras. Compatible with other active fish of comparable size. It is worth remembering that slow-moving tankmates are likely to lose competition for food. They prefer to be in a group.

Maintenance and care, arrangement of the aquarium

The minimum aquarium size for a group of 2-3 fish starts at 500 liters. In the design, it is recommended to provide places for shelter on the lower tier, for example, in the form of snags and thickets of rooted plants. The lighting is subdued. Floating plants can serve as an additional source of shading.

Optimal living conditions are considered to be soft, slightly acidic water, saturated with tannins. The source of tannins will be either special suspensions, or natural driftwood, leaves of some trees, etc. More details in a separate article “Which tree leaves can be used in an aquarium”.

Untimely removal of food residues and excrement are the main causes of poor water quality. When maintaining an aquarium, you should not rely solely on the filtration system. Equally important is the weekly replacement of part of the water with fresh water with the removal of accumulated waste.

Food

Pied-tailed pike is a carnivorous species. In nature, it feeds on insects, worms and other invertebrates, as well as small fish / fry. Before buying, it is important to check with the supplier what is the basis of the daily diet. Possibly accustomed to alternative foods such as dry pellets for feeding carnivorous fish, this would be a great alternative to live foods.