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Pike Livebearer
Belonesox belizanus
📍 Central America
The Pike Livebearer is a large, predatory livebearer native to Central America, known for its elongated body and aggressive hunting behavior. This species requires spacious tanks and careful tankmate selection due to its carnivorous nature and tendency to consume smaller fish. Despite their challenging care requirements, experienced aquarists appreciate them for their unique appearance and interesting predatory behaviors.
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Care Guide
Diet
Pike Livebearers are obligate carnivores requiring a diet of live or frozen small fish, shrimp, and large insects. Feed juveniles small feeder fish and aquatic invertebrates 2-3 times weekly, transitioning adults to larger prey items. Occasional supplementation with high-quality carnivore pellets can be offered, though they prefer live or frozen whole prey.
Behavior
Pike Livebearers are solitary, highly predatory fish that spend most of their time hunting and patrolling their territory. They are ambush predators that remain relatively still before striking at prey with remarkable speed and accuracy. These fish are generally nocturnal and may show stress if kept in brightly lit tanks without adequate cover.
Breeding
Breeding Pike Livebearers in captivity is extremely difficult and rarely successful in home aquariums. Females are ovoviviparous and produce live young, but males are highly aggressive toward females and will pursue them relentlessly. Successful breeding requires very large tanks with extensive hiding spaces and careful monitoring to prevent injury or cannibalism of fry.
Tank Mates
Large swordtails may be tolerated but smaller individuals will be predated upon
Only large adult mollies have a chance of coexistence; smaller specimens will be eaten
Platys are too small and will be consumed; only viable with very large tank and constant monitoring
Large sailfin mollies may coexist but require significant space and hiding areas
Larger molly species with better survival chances but still at risk in smaller tanks
Small species; only suitable with very large tanks and extensive vegetation
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, rubbing against objects
Increase water temperature to 28-30°C (82-86°F), perform daily 25% water changes, use aquarium salt at 1 teaspoon per gallon, or treat with copper-free ich medication for 7-10 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, progressive fin loss
Perform 25% water changes every 2-3 days, maintain pristine water quality, use antibacterial medication such as tetracycline or minocycline, remove any sharp tank decorations
Bacterial Infection
Open sores, ulcers on body, cloudy eyes, loss of appetite, lethargy
Isolate affected fish in quarantine tank, perform daily 50% water changes, treat with broad-spectrum antibiotics such as kanamycin or gentamicin for 7-10 days
Internal Parasites
Weight loss despite feeding, bloated appearance, stringy feces, lethargy, loss of appetite
Treat with antiparasitic medication containing praziquantel or metronidazole, perform frequent water changes, feed medicated food if available, quarantine infected fish to prevent spread
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Carnivore - primarily small fish, shrimp, and large aquatic insects
- lifespan
- 5-8 years
- max size
- 50 cm (20 in)
- tank size
- 75 gallons minimum
- temperament
- aggressive
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5-7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 8-15 dGH
- temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)