Comb Pike Cichlid (Crenicichla lepidota)
23–27°C · pH 7–8
£44.99
A compact but highly predatory Amazonian pike cichlid for experienced aquarists seeking a striking, behavior-rich species. Expert care, aggressive. 24-28C, pH 6.0-7.5.
Care at a Glance
Scientific Name
Crenicichla proteus
Max Adult Size
up to 20 cm
Lifespan
8 years
Care Level
Expert
Temperament
Aggressive
Temperature
24–28°C
pH Range
6–7.5
Hardness
1–12 dGH
Minimum Tank
200L
Diet
Carnivore
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Water Parameters
Temperature
24–28°C
24°CIdeal28°C
pH Level
6–7.5
6Ideal7.5
Water Hardness
1–12 dGH
1 dGHIdeal12 dGH
Crenicichla proteus
Peru Crenicichla (Crenicichla proteus) - Cichlid Fish for Sale UK
Expert Only
Aggressive
£19.99Sold Out
Multi-Buy Pricing
— from £16.00 eachSave when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
Selected fish
£36.80You save £3.18
Get a product-specific stock alert
Confirm your email, then we’ll send an availability message for this exact item if it returns within 180 days.
This request is only for this product—no newsletter or other promotions. A mail-provider retry may very rarely duplicate the same availability message. Unconfirmed addresses are removed after 48 hours. See our privacy policy.
- Live arrival guaranteed. Email photos the same day if anything is wrong; an unboxing video is optional. How it works
- £19.95 delivery, half price from £100, free from £200, or free on the whole order with free delivery fish packs.
- Check our reviews (opens Google Business Profile in a new tab) on Google.
A compact but highly predatory Amazonian pike cichlid for experienced aquarists seeking a striking, behavior-rich species. Expert care, aggressive. 24-28C, pH 6.0-7.5.
Care at a Glance
Scientific Name
Crenicichla proteus
Max Adult Size
up to 20 cm
Lifespan
8 years
Care Level
Expert
Temperament
Aggressive
Temperature
24–28°C
pH Range
6–7.5
Hardness
1–12 dGH
Minimum Tank
200L
Diet
Carnivore
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Full Care Guide
Cichlids: Types, Care & Tank Planning
Cichlids are a family of roughly 1,800 accepted species, not one care type. Before buying, identify the exact species and source, then compare adult measurement, usable tank dimensions, social system, territory, tested water, diet and an exit plan. No family-wide minimum tank, water range or tank-mate list is safe.
14 min readRead guide
Water Parameters
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Temperature
24–28°C
24°CIdeal28°C
pH Level
6–7.5
6Ideal7.5
Water Hardness
1–12 dGH
1 dGHIdeal12 dGH
Overview
The Peru Crenicichla, scientifically known as Crenicichla proteus, is a striking small pike cichlid from the Amazon basin that brings bold personality, predatory behaviour, and vivid appearance to specialised aquariums. Available for freshwater fish for sale UK, this species reaches up to 5.5cm in length and thrives in tanks of at least 70 litres. Native to Peru and the Amazon basin, the Peru Crenicichla is best suited to experienced aquarists seeking rare cichlids UK with unique character.
Appearance
The Peru Crenicichla is a small, elongated pike cichlid with a streamlined body and striking coloration. The body typically displays vivid patterns of stripes, spots, or iridescent highlights. Males may develop more intense colours than females, especially during breeding. Overall, the Peru Crenicichla is a beautiful, understated predator that fits into specialised South American setups.
Natural Habitat
Native to the Amazon River basin in South America, including the Napo and Putumayo drainages in Ecuador, the Ucayali-Amazon drainage in Peru, and the upper Purus basin, the Peru Crenicichla inhabits streams with rocky substrates.
Aquarium Setup
A minimum tank size of 70 litres is suitable. Use soft sand substrate, and provide plenty of hiding places using rocks, caves, and driftwood. Filtration must be excellent. Maintain soft, slightly acidic water.
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 24-28°C
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- Care Level: Difficult
- Temperament: Aggressive
- Adult Size: 5.5cm
- Minimum Tank Size: 70 litres
Feeding
Primarily carnivorous. Offer appropriately sized meaty foods such as small frozen/live foods and quality carnivore preparations. Avoid feeder fish.
Behaviour
A shy, retiring predator that spends much time hiding, emerging to hunt. Intelligent but remain aggressive and territorial. Not suitable for community tanks.
Tank Mates
Best kept as a species tank or with carefully selected robust tankmates. Avoid small peaceful fish, shrimp, slow, long-finned fish, peaceful community fish, and other pike cichlids unless in a very large setup. Note: Compatible and incompatible lists appear reversed in source data.
Top Tip: Provide excellent filtration, stable warm water, hiding places, and a secure lid. This is a predatory cichlid that may prey on small tankmates.
Breeding
Likely a cave or substrate spawner with pair bonding and strong parental defense. Provide spacious tank, soft water, and secluded spawning sites. Breeding pairs may become highly aggressive.
Why Buy from Tropical Fish Co
Tropical Fish Co offers healthy Peru Crenicichla with expert guidance on pike cichlid care. With secure packaging and reliable delivery, we make it easy to buy rare cichlids UK with confidence.
Customer Reviews
No reviews for this item yet. Bought one? Honest reviews only, good or bad.
What customers say about ordering from us
4.6 on Google Maps, rated 4.6 out of 5 (opens in a new tab)4.4 · 118 shop reviews read them, rated 4.4 out of 5
- 5 out of 5Verified buyer
Easy website plenty of info on fish your buying great to pick a time slot
TRACEY DURRANT · 7 Oct 2026
- 4 out of 5Verified buyer
Got some lovely fish thank you
Kevin Mackie · 7 Oct 2026
Reviews of our shop, collected by Judge.me, an independent third-party review collector. Newest first.