Feeder Goldfish, and Pike(?)

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geo

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Dec 10, 2002
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hello everybody,
i got what the pet-store guy called a pike, and though its head looks like a pike the coloration looks more tropical, but then again I dont know much about pikes. it little right now, maybe 3-4 inches, and I am thinking about feeding it feeder goldfish... is it possible to transmit parasites/diseases from the feeder goldfish to the pike (or whatever it is)? If so, do you have any suggestions on substitutes for the goldfish?
thanks,
georgio
 
Yes Yes Yes. It is possible and likely that you will pass diseases from the feeders to your pike. I've never had a pike, so I'm not sure what else you could feed him. I think the best solution might be to salt, medicate, and quarantine the Hell out of your feeders before putting them into the tank with the pike.

I personally would never own a fish like that again for specifically that reason. Some love them enough to put up with the headache, though. ...Good luck.

-Shay
 
say that again? you have a pike...as in the 'pike' you find in our lakes? Are we talking the same kind of fish here or is pike short for some kind of tropical fish? im curious. IF it is what im thinking, find yourself some minnows at a tackle/bait store!
 
Check the Species Profiles here for info on your pike. I'm sure you'll find what you need to know. The species of pike in the US are considered gamefish and prohibitied from keeping in home aquariums in a lot of states. So becareful with this.

More than likely what you have is a pike cichlid . Very common in most pet stores. You could also have some sort of snakehead however if the store mislabeled them, and you can find info about them in the Miscellaneous Section of this site.

According to the link I gave you they get up to 14 inches. I've seen and known people that have kept smaller pikes and they always complained about how much the fish would eat. Usually ended up bringing them back to the pet shops for this reason.

On another note I'd stay away from minnows purchased in bait shops. They carry the same problem as feeder goldfish. Most around here have some type of "blue coloring" added in the tanks. I'm not absolutely sure what it is but more than likely it's some kind of medication. They are also high in fats, oils, and very bony. Another problem. And the biggest problem with them is sometimes they don't get eaten soon enough and trying to catch them once they are too big for your predator to eat is a job.

Also and the most important note. If you buy feeders at a pet store to feed you pike make sure you keep them in a sperate tank for a time. I keep mine for a week and won't feed them if they show any signs of parasites or illness. Feed them well and I medicate mine just to be sure. You might want to get yourself a few fancy guppies and start breeding them. It takes a few months to get started but once you have a bunch of big healthy females and a few males they should keep you in feeders. It's much more safe this way and rather enjoyable. Also saves on trips to the store for feeders. And you don't want to risk your fish catching something from the sick feeders.
 
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make sure you either supplement the pike for nutrition or stuff thsoe feeders with some good food so that the pike gets good nutrition
 
I think it must be a pike cichlid, though it doesnt match the pictures of the two pke cichlids species that Aquaria Central has pictures of. I think i'll start breeding guppies for him, but any suggestions on how to feed him other food, and what other food to feed him, would be appreciated. He's in a 10-gallon right now, but I'm going to move him to a 40-60 gallon tank soon.
As for breeding the guppies... do I have to do anything special or do I just leave the guppies alone, feed them once in a while, and they'll produce young (and they wont eat their young)?
Also, are mollies the same thing as guppies?
thanks,
georgio
 
No, mollies are mollies and guppies are guppies.

I suggest you feed this animal on high quality cichlid pellets.
 
hmm ok are mollies as easy to breed as guppies? would they make a good feeder, do they eat their young etc?
any particular brand/type of cichlid food that you recommend?
thanks!
georgio
 
The main brand available to me in ancient and hoary Albion is Hikari, but I imagine you have more choice.

I don't think it's worth the effort to raise feeders. Pike cichlids do indeed eat guppies in the wild, but in the same way that zoos do not toss in the occasional gazelle to feed the lions, there is no need to arse around with guppies for pike cichlids in captivity.
 
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