Red Fin Pickerel (Esox americanus americanus)

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Contents 1 Alternative names 1.1 Synonyms 2 Sexing 3 Tank compatibility 4 Diet 5 Feeding regime 6 Environment Specifics 7 Behaviour 8 Identification 9 Pictures 10 External links

Alternative names

Red Fin Pickerel, Grass Pickerel, Redfin Pickerel

Synonyms

Esox americanus

Sexing

Unknown

Tank compatibility

Do not stock Redfin Pickerel together with any fish less than 1/3 of the pickerel's body length. Redfin Pickerel will not do well with very active or aggressive fish; such a combination often results in the Pickerel becoming ragged as well as barely eating for lack of opportunities.

Diet

Piscivorous, but will eat other live foods such as grubs and insects. It is extremely difficult to achieve a diet of artificial food with Redfin Pickerel or Pikes altogether.

Feeding regime

You may feed your pickerel 0-2x/day depending on selected diet. Pickerel typically need a brief "warm-up" period before they begin to feed.

Environment Specifics

Redfin Pickerel enjoy cover; long tall grass-like plants are ideal.

Behaviour

Like all pike, the Redfin Pickerel is an ambush predator. This lifestyle dictates much of its tank and feeding requirements. As an ambush predator, under normal circumstances, it will not chase food around a tank. Pickerel prefer to lay very still amidst some cover and wait for food to pass by it. Redfin Pickerel will barely breath to achieve full effect.

Identification

The Redfin Pickerel is the smallest member of the pike family. They have dark, vertical barring on sides. The opercle is fully scaled and there is a forward slashing "scar" through the eye. The snout is shorter than in other pikes. The Redfin variety of E. americanus usually has red-to-orange colouring on the lower fins.

Pictures

External links

• Fishbase
• Wikipedia