Pikehead

About

Found lurking among dense vegetation in peat swamps and shaded forest streams across Peninsular Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia, Luciocephalus pulcher is one of the most unusual members of the gourami family. It looks nothing like its relatives. The body is elongated and pike-shaped, and the jaws are extraordinarily protrusible, capable of extending roughly a third of the head length. Prey is taken in a rapid forward lunge, the wide-open mouth engulfing the target before it can react. Despite the predatory build, this species is actually quite timid, and combinations with boisterous or significantly larger tankmates tend to stress it out. A species-only setup works best, and if you keep a group, make sure all individuals are closely matched in size. Size disparities invite cannibalism. Breeding is possible in captivity: the male broods the eggs orally for around a month, releasing fully formed fry and going without food the entire time. Like other anabantoids, it possesses a labyrinth organ for breathing atmospheric air, and both it and its only congener, L. aura, lack functional swim bladders. The trickiest part of keeping this fish is the initial purchase. It ships poorly and arrives weakened more often than not. Inspect carefully before buying and give it time to settle before judging its hardiness.