CTENOLUCIIDAE FAMILY
The Ctenoluciidae or Pike-Characin Family is distributed throughout the Amazon basin inSouth America and include the genus
Boulengerella
and
Ctenolucius.
Striped Pike Characin, Striped Gar
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Boulengerella lateristriga
SYN
:
Xiphostomalateristriga
PD
: An elongated, slender fish.The snout and mouth are very long. The tip of the upper jaw hangs overthe lower. The back light brown to brown.A white stripe extends along the fish's back, from the tip of the snoutthrough the eye to the base of the tail.A dark brown stripe extends from the tip of the snout through the eyeand to the base of the tail.A third stripe, below the first two, runs from the tip of the lower jaw to the tail. Itis white in color.The belly is also white.The other fins dull brown with some pale markings.
SIZE
: To 16" (40 cm)
SS
: Spotted Pike Characin (
B. maculata
)
HAB
: In still and slow-moving water with reedy or grassy vegetation and submerged wood. SouthAmerica; in the
Rio Negro
and the Rio Urubu.
S: middle, top
TANK
: 48" (122 cm) or 55 gallons (209 L) is sufficient for young fish up to 6" (15cm) in length.When full grown, a 60" (152 cm) or 90 gallon (342 L) tank should be used. Thewater should be well-aerated and have heavy, dense vegetation.The surface should have a cover of floating plants. Plentyof hiding places should be provided, as should open swimming areas. The lighting should be dim and rootsand wood should be used for hiding areas.Use peat filtration for best results. 1/4 to 1/3 of the water should be changedbimonthly and a good conditioner should be added.
WATER
: pH 5-6.8 (6.5), dH 0-10 (4), 73-82°F (23-28°C)
SB
: This active predator can be kept singly or in groups. Do not combine with small or slenderfish for they will be eaten.The Striped Pike Characin can be kept with calm, large bodied fish like catfish and mediumto large cichlids.
SC
: South American Cichlids (possibly large Angels and Waroo), Loricarids, Pimelodids,large characins, large Knifefish.
FOOD
: Live; fish,
Tubifex
, earthworms, mosquito larvae, caterpillars.
SEX: Unknown
B
: Unknown
BP
: 10.Breeding has not been accomplished in aquaria.
R
: Before purchasing a Striped Pike Characin, observe it carefully for a period of time. Oftenimported specimen are injured or sick and will not take foods.This fish is very sensitive to nitrate and nitritelevels. This fish is very shy and timid and will not come out from hiding until it has adjusted to the tank. Donot turn on the light when it is dark or make sudden, loud noises for these fish are easily frightened and mayresort to frantic swimming around the tank, throwing itself against the tank lid. After one of these escapades, the fishis injured or mortally wounded.
DC
: 7.This skittish fish is an aggressive predator that must be fed live foods. This species is sensitive to unfavorablewater conditions.
Spotted Pike Characin, Peruvian Gar
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Boulengerella maculata
SYN
:
Hydrocynusmalculatus, Xiphostoma maculatum
PD
: An elongated, slender fish.The snout and mouth are very long. The tip of the upper jaw hangs overthe lower. The back is gray to brown.A silver stripe extends from the tip of the snout through the eye tothe base of the tail.Another stripe, with the same color as the back, also extends from the tip of the snoutthrough the eye and to the base of the tail.A third stripe, below the first two, runs from the tip of the lowerjaw to the tail.It is white in color.The belly is the same color. The other fins are striped with blackand white stripes, except for the pectoral which is transparent.
SIZE
: To 13" (33 cm)
SS
: Striped Pike Characin (
B. lateristriga
)
HAB
: South America; lives in slow-moving parts with grassy reeds in the
Peru
vian Amazon.
S: top
TANK
: 48" (122 cm) or 55 gallons (209 L) is sufficient for fish to 8" (20 cm), althoughlarger tanks are preferred.Adult specimen require a 60" (152 cm) tank with a capacity exceeding 90 gallons (342 L). Usea tight-fitting tank hood, and a thick cover of floating plants.The tank should be heavily planted with smallopen swimming areas in the mid and lower water levels.This fish like all of the family is very skittish and is easily frightened. Thecover of floating plants is needed for the protection of the fish from jumping against the tank lid. Thetank should be well-aerated.
WATER
: pH 6-7.5 (6.8), 2-18 dH (6), 73-81°F (23-27°C)
SB
: A predator that can only be combined with other large fish of the lower swimming levels.Keepin pairs or in groups.
SC
: As for
B.lateristriga
.
FOOD
: Live; fish, earthworms, large insects; pellets; large flakes
SEX: Unknown
B
: Unknown
BP
: 10.Spawning has not been accomplished in captivity.
R
: Hunts at night and during the day.This fish is skittish and timid. Iffrightened it may swim frantically around the tank, crashing into the glass and throwing itself against the lid,causing injury and even death.Avoid making sudden movement when performing water changes and loud noises. Usuallya short-lived fish in captivity.
DC
: 6.The Spotted Pike is sensitive to water pollutants and requires live foods. Itreaches a large size, and is predatory.
South American Freshwater Needlefish, Silver Gar, Hujeta Pike Characin, Slant-nosed Gar
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Ctenolucius hujeta hujeta
SYN
:
Ctenoluciushujeta, Luciocharax insculptus, Xiphostoma hujeta
PD
: An elongated, slender fish with a long snout and mouth. The body color is silver while the finsare transparent.The tail is forked and has a black spot at its base. The upper jaw is slightly longer thanthe lower. This fish may have golden to blue iridescence depending on lighting.
SIZE
: To 28" (70 cm), not usually larger than 10" (25 cm) in captivity.
SS
: There are three sub-species of C.
hujeta
:
C. hujeta beani
,
C. hujetainsculptus
, and
C. hujeta hujeta
.
HAB
: South and Central Americ
A
: Rio Magdalena, Columbia; also found in
Panama
and
Venezuela
. Innature, this fish can be found in large groups hunting prey.
S: middle, top
TANK
: 60" (152 cm) or 90 gallons (342 L). The tank should have a tight-fittinglid and a cover of floating plants.Leave large, open swimming areas and use a filter that provides a moderateto strong current.The tank should be well-planted along the sides and in the back. Provide some driftwood structures forhiding.
WATER
: pH 6.5-7.5 (7.0), 5-20 dH (10), 73-81°F (23-27°C)
SB
: A predator that can only be combined with other large fish of the lower swimming levels. Keepin pairs or in groups.
SC
: Piranhas (and allies), Anostomus, Central and South America cichlids, Pimelodids, Loricarids.
FOOD
: Live; fish, earthworms, large insects; pellets; large flakes
SEX: Females are slightly larger than males, and during the spawning season, they havea fuller stomach.The edge of the male's anal fin appears frayed, while the female's fin is straight.
B
: Use water with a temperature between 77-82°F (25-28°C). After an active courtship, the eggsare sprayed out above water surface, sinking and adhering to plants and rocks. Spawning takes up to three hours anda large female can produce 3000 eggs, although 1000-1500 eggs is a more reasonable amount. Eggs hatch in 1-2 days and fry are free-swimmingafter 4-5 days.Start feeding small live foods such as
Brine Shrimp
nauplii,
Cyclops
nauplii, and roftiers. Aftera week, the young can be fed larger foods, such as the fry of livebearers. The young must be fed several timesa day to prevent cannibalism.Frequent partial water changes are necessary for the health of the young.
BP
: 8.Breeding
C.hujeta hujeta
is a challenge.
R
: Hunts at night and during the day.This fish is skittish and timid. Iffrightened it may swim frantically around the tank, crashing into the glass and throwing itself against the lid,causing injury and even death.Avoid making sudden movement when performing water changes and loud noises. Sensitiveto the addition of new water during water changes.
DC
: 6.This large, nervous fish is an active predator which must be fed live foods. Underthe right conditions this fish is hardy.
Shark-repelling fishing gear in the works
(4/23/2008) Fishing gear that produces an electric field in sea water could help prevent sharks from becoming accidental bycatch, say scientists at NOAA.
Feds flood the Grand Canyon to save endangered fish
(3/5/2008) Federal government officials unleashed a flood of water from Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona to help restore the Grand Canyon's ecosystem which has suffered as a result of changes caused by the dam.
The copy for fish.mongabay.com was written in 1994-1995. Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date. For this, I apologize. Feel free to send corrections to me.
