Dwarf Pike ID

[dwarfpike]

Picked up this little one, couldn't help myself. Doesn't seem to be the regular Cr. wallacii that has been coming out of Colombia (I have had that race twice, neither the males nor the females get the red bar through the dorsal). That bar hasn't appeared in either the noto's I've had or any Cr. regani I've kept or seen pics of. I'm a bit stumped. Pics were taken outside for the natural light and no flash. It was listed as Cr. wallacii ... and does sort of resemble the female Rio Branco race from Jens Gottwald's pike site (http://www.crenicichla.net/). But I didn't think the Rio Branco was in one of the approved commercial collection sites that Brazil is actually allowing.

 

[tjudy]

Very cool little fish. Were you able to get a pair?

 

[dwarfpike]

Sadly, no. They only had one left. If I had only set my tank up two months earlier. I debated getting just the one without a pair, because often times the males are almost identical and it's the females that confirm the ID.

I just couldn't pass on that on that dorsal fin pattern though. Especially since it's a new species/race for me.

 

[dwarfpike]

Two close ups with a better camera.

 

[animalmgc]

nice fish too bad about the pair

 

[gerald]

Maybe folks at the shop remember who else bought some of those pikes and can get you in touch, so you can coordinate about swapping or loaning fish for breeding. I'm guessing pike fanatics may be among the shop's more "memorable" customers. Hope you can track down a female!

Sadly, no. They only had one left. If I had only set my tank up two months earlier. I debated getting just the one without a pair, because often times the males are almost identical and it's the females that confirm the ID.

I just couldn't pass on that on that dorsal fin pattern though. Especially since it's a new species/race for me.

 

[dwarfpike]

I talked with one of the employees that brought one home, but sadly his jack dempsey didn't like the pike killing other members of his tank. They only ordered three in, and since it was two months ago, they didn't remember where the other one went. I did find out which wholesaler they came from, and I know which LFS's order from that particular one ... so this weekend I think I'll make the trip around town and see if anymore has any more. Pikes generally don't sell well, dwarf pikes even less so ... so if they ordered some in, chances are some might still be at the stores.

I have already emailed two pike experts here in the states, and I'm going to email the wholesaler as well. They have been good at answering emails in the past so it's worth a shot.

 

[dwarfpike]

Update: Got emails back both from Dr. Wayne Leibel and Vin Kutty, neither of which recognized it. So I'm super excited.

It's behavior is a bit odd, almost like a bellycrawler pike. I'm wondering if it might be a rapids dweller.

 

[dwarfpike]

Success!!!

Tentatively of course. It seems Oliver Lucanus has pics of this dwarf, coming out of the Rio Inirida and being mixed in with the Colombian Wallacii. This very well might be the sp. Iniridae dwarf that Aquatic Clarity was looking at ordering on the list a few weeks ago.

 

[arodg12]

Wow, That's really exciting, seems to me that it is a very unique species and that you've stumbled upon quite a discovery! Good luck learning more about them!

 

[Hudson Ensz]

Congratulations! Have fun with it!

 

[dwarfpike]

Wow, That's really exciting, seems to me that it is a very unique species and that you've stumbled upon quite a discovery! Good luck learning more about them!

Thanks!!

Congratulations! Have fun with it!

Oh I will Hudson, I will. Since exports from Brazil are nonexistant, we are counting on you to find some new dwarf pikes while you are apisto hunting you know!!