Keeping Hepsetus odoe (African Pike characin)

[Zigermandli]

Hi everyone

Does someone else keep this fascinating species ? My Hepsetus is about 7" and growing fast. I would like to keep two or three together in my 255 Gallon Tank, but to get this species, at least in this size, in central Europe is pretty difficult.

I actually feeding on middle sized "Stint" a day and the growth is pretty impressive.

Here is a slowmotion of my Hepsetus hunting on my Channel

Would be great to share some experience wit other Keepers

Thomas

 

[kno4te]

Nice slow mo shot. Lots of members do and will be hearing from them soon.

The odoe looks good. It'll get really big in ur tank fast.

One day when my finances are bit better will be getting some of these odoes.

By the way can u show a full tank shot. What I see so far is very teasing.

 

[tlindsey]

Hi everyone

Does someone else keep this fascinating species ? My Hepsetus is about 7" and growing fast. I would like to keep two or three together in my 255 Gallon Tank, but to get this species, at least in this size, in central Europe is pretty difficult.

I actually feeding on middle sized "Stint" a day and the growth is pretty impressive.

Here is a slowmotion of my Hepsetus hunting on my Channel

Would be great to share some experience wit other Keepers

Thomas

@HarleyK

 

[HarleyK]

Congrats on keeping these fun fish!!!

If you browse this forum for a thread with "foam" in the title, you'll find my report on breeding them, which might also give you a bit of a background.

Keeping and especially breeding them is a very rewarding experience, and it sounds like you have a perfect tank size to do it.

I was able to get mine to accept pellets, and it was on the Hikari diet that I was able to get them to spawn. Might very well be possible with a variety diet of frozen feeders as well.

Please keep us posted, it's always great to hear about such nice setups for pikes.

Prima!
HarleyK

 

[Zigermandli]

thanks a lot

@HarleyK , congrats for breeding ! It must be awesome to watch them protecting the foam nest

here's a small video from the full Tank

just for comparison the big ornate is about 18" long

I will try to add some anubias or microsorum on the DIY background to get more shelter from above than "just" the big Rock on the left.

Thomas

 

[kno4te]

Great looking tank.

 

[moe214]

Nice aquascaping. I'd say 5 or 6 might be better, according to others who keep them in groups, 2 might fight if they don't become a pair and I think you've got an adequate tank size, so if you can get ahold of more I say go for it. I keep one solo, I've had her for about a year maybe a little more now, got her at 3-4" she's now 11-12" eyeballing and putting on mass. Great fish to keep.

 

[tlindsey]

Awesome aquascape!

 

[HarleyK]

I'd say 5 or 6 might be better, according to others who keep them in groups, 2 might fight if they don't become a pair

On the other hand, if a pair forms, they will bully all other pikes into hiding... at least from my experience. I started out with 5.

 

[Madou]

On the other hand, if a pair forms, they will bully all other pikes into hiding... at least from my experience. I started out with 5.

Yeah, your experience is why I started with 3, much less chance for a pair, much less of a loss if one forms. (Though, it'd still wipe the rest of the fishes -.- )