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Lugubria tigrina

Tiger Pike Cichlid

(Ploeg, Jégu & Ferreira, 1991)Formerly Crenicichla tigrina

Last revised 2026Edit this page

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Tiger Pike Cichlid (Crenicichla tigrina)
Tiger Pike Cichlid (Crenicichla tigrina)JJPhoto

Quick factsEdit

Max size
300mm SL12in SL
Aquarium size
180 × 60cm72 × 24in
Temp
23–26°C73–79°F
pH
6.0–7.0
Hardness
0–20dGH

Difficulty3 of 8 measures

Moderate

How the rating is worked out

Space
very large tank
Water
needs a steady pH
Temp
needs a steady temperature
Diet
unknown
Temperament
unknown
Social
unknown
Compatibility
unknown

Other demands

Each of these can raise the rating on its own, whatever the measures above say.

Hardiness
unknown
  • Needs a very large tank

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.

Distribution

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Known only from the Rio Trombetas in the Brazilian Amazon.

Habitat

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Known only from the Rio Trombetas in the Brazilian Amazon.

Aquarium size

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Standard length
300mm SL12in SL
Aquarium base
180 × 60cm72 × 24in
Volume
~648litres~171US gal

180 ∗ 60 ∗ 60 cm72 ∗ 24 ∗ 24 in - ~648 litres~171 US gal

Maintenance

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Sand substrate is recommended. This species is likely to dig and arrange the decor to suit itself. Some rockwork should be provided to form caves as pikes like to have an area to which they can retreat. Plants should be robust, ideally potted or rooted to bogwood.

Water conditions

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Temperature
23–26°C73–79°F
pH
6.0–7.0
Hardness
0–20dGH

Temperature: 23 – 26 °C73 – 79 °F

pH: 6.0 - 7.0

Hardness: Up to 20°H

These recommendations come from this profile’s own figures. They contain affiliate links, so we may earn a commission.

Diet

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Feed a varied diet including a good quality cichlid pellet or flake, live or frozen foods such as bloodworm or brineshrimp, meaty foods such as prawn and mussel and vegetable matter in the form of spirulina or algae wafers.

Behaviour and compatibility

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Can be aggressive, especially towards conspecifics. may be kept with other large cichlids or as a species only setup. Likely to eat any fish small enough to be considered food - and they have big mouths!

Sexual dimorphism

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Male has prominent black spots and stripes (hence the common name)

Reproduction

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No reports of breeding in the hobby.

Notes

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A strikingly marked species that is rarely seen in the hobby in the UK.

Species images · 1

Tiger Pike Cichlid (Crenicichla tigrina)
Tiger Pike Cichlid (Crenicichla tigrina)JJPhoto

These photographs are used with each photographer's permission.

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How the name has changed

  1. Moved from Crenicichla tigrina to Lugubria tigrina.

    2023Revision of the generic classification of pike cichlids using an integrative phylogenetic approach (Cichlidae: tribe Geophagini: subtribe Crenicichlina)

Distribution

Profile completeness19 of 24

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Also missing: etymology.

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