Lugubria

The red-finned pike cichlid, Lugubria johanna, is a large pike cichlid that ranges over much of northern South America. It is known from the Orinoco, Essequibo, Oyapock and Approuague basins among others, mostly in faster moving rivers and streams, and a number of colour forms have developed across its range. Growing to 30 cm, it can be aggressive, especially towards its own kind, and will eat any fish small enough to be considered food.

The Atabo red pike cichlid, Lugubria lugubris, is a large pike cichlid from rivers in Suriname, Guyana and Brazil. Colourful when small, it quickly grows into an aggressive adult of up to 40 cm and will eat any fish small enough to be considered food. Pairs are difficult to form because males become increasingly aggressive as they mature, and prospective mates are often killed.

The striped pike cichlid, Lugubria strigata, is a large pike cichlid from the lower Amazon basin in Brazil, away from the main river itself. One of the more commonly available pike cichlids in the UK, it is often bought by fishkeepers unaware that it grows to around 40 cm. It can be aggressive, especially towards conspecifics, and is reported to be susceptible to hole in the head disease.

The tiger pike cichlid, Lugubria tigrina, is a pike cichlid known only from the Rio Trombetas in the Brazilian Amazon. It is rarely seen in the UK hobby, and males carry the prominent black spots and stripes behind the common name. Growing to around 30 cm, it can be aggressive towards conspecifics and will eat any fish small enough to be considered food.