Pike Top Minnow

Belonesox belizanus

This is a predatory fish that should be maintained alone, the females grow quite large (7 inches) and dwarf the males at 4 inches. The males are in serious danger of being eaten and the two should be kept apart using a tank divider. Except when actually breeding and during the time they are together they should be watched very carefully.

Water conditions to keep them heathy, Temp - 78 to 82 F, pH 7.2 to 7.6, and 1/2 level teaspoon of salt per gallon of water.

Feeding these fish can be a problem, initially they will only accept live food although some can be persuaded to take dead meaty food if they are started early enough. These fish cannot be kept in a community tank, because they would eat the other occupants. they are very proficient ambush predators.

Their tank should be setup with lots of plants, real or artificial makes no difference. These fish are ambush predators and they have a very strong instinct to "lurk" in a hiding place, usually a plant thicket to deny them the opertunity to hide would be cruel, and may prevent them from breeding.

Being Livebearers the actual process of mating is straight forward providing the two fish can get along together for a short time. No special conditioning is neccessary, just use large well fed healthy adult fish and introduce them to a very densley planted aquarium and stay with them. Once there have been several matings the male should be removed for his own safety because these fish are highly cannabalistic and the much smaller male would eventually be viewed as a meal.

Once mated the gestation period last 4 to 6 weeks and about 30 to 50 fry will be born in an average brood. As soon as posible after giving birth the mother should be removed and the fry left on their own. They can eat Daphnia as soon as they are born and will grow quickly moving on to larger prey as they grow,  and are sexable at about 14 weeks. And fully mature at about 8 months.