Striped Pike-characin

About

The striped pike-characin (Boulengerella lateristriga) is a slender, elongated predator from the blackwater rivers of the Rio Negro and upper Río Orinoco basin, where its streamlined build lets it launch quick bursts of speed at prey. The body is marked by a thin, dark lateral stripe running from behind the eye all the way to the caudal peduncle, and the tail lobes carry distinct dark crossbars. Useful features for telling it apart from the closely related B. maculata. In the aquarium it can be shy and easily spooked, so a large, well-planted tank with plenty of open midwater space suits it well. Despite the aggressive tag it often gets, this species is generally fine with anything it cannot fit in its mouth. Boisterous or territorial tankmates are a poor fit, but calm, similarly sized companions like Geophagus cichlids, doradid catfishes, or loricariids tend to work well. Juveniles show a genuine schooling instinct, and even adults appreciate the security of a group. Keeping four or more individuals is strongly recommended. As they age they become more independent, but they still gather occasionally. Breeding has not been documented in captivity, and given the tank size and specialist diet this species demands, it is best suited to a keeper with some experience under their belt.