Edit Acestrorhynchus microlepis
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Name
Scientific name
Acestrorhynchus microlepis
Described by
Authority Jardine, Year 1841, Bracketed
Family
Acestrorhynchidae
Common names
Pike Tetra, Hechtkopfsalmler
Photograph credits
All 3 credited
Summary
The pike tetra, Acestrorhynchus microlepis, is a predatory acestrorhynchid from northern Amazon drainages and the Orinoco. It also occurs i…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
260mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 250 cm, Minimum depth 90 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 22–28°C, pH 6–7.5
Hardness
1–12dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Predatory
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, Amazon, Araguaia, Essequibo, Guaporé, Inírida, Mamore, Negro, Orinoco, Solimões, Xingu
Writing
Etymology
Acestrorhynchus: from the Greek akéstra (Gr. ἀκέστρα), meaning 'darning needle' and rhýnchos (Gr. ῥύγχος), meaning 'snout', in reference to the presence of sha…
Distribution
Type locality is given as 'Rio Negro; Rio Branco; and Essiquibo River, South America', and this species is widely distributed throughout northern drainages of …
Habitat
Inhabits major river channels and tributaries, and typically moves into flooded zones during the wet season.
Aquarium size
Acestrorhynchids are typically very active and extremely fast swimmers so minimum base dimensions in the region of 250 ∗ 90 cm are required for long-term care.…
Maintenance
This species is a near-exclusive inhabitant of open water and an excess of cover can actually stress it meaning, substrate aside, the majority of the tank shou…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
An obligate piscivore capable of consuming quite large prey in relation to its body size although it tends to focus on smaller prey such as tetras and related …
Behaviour and compatibility
Relatively peaceful with anything too large to swallow and can be maintained in a community provided tankmates are chosen with care. Aggressively territorial o…
Sexual dimorphism
Sexually mature females tend to grow a little larger and be deeper-bodied than males.
Reproduction
Observations of the congener A. falcatus suggest that spawning occurs in midwater with the female remaining stationary while the male swims around her in a 'fi…
Notes
This species is a member of the putative A. microlepis group of closely-related species within the genus alongside A. britskii, A. grandoculis and A. minimus. …
References
References
8 on this profile