Red Fin Pickerel (Esox americanus americanus)

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Red Fin Pickerel

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Red Fin Pickerel

Esox americanus americanus

757 Litres (200 US G.)

35-40 cm (13.8-15.7")

sg

Freshwater

pH

7.0 - 7.8

20 -23 °C (68-73.4°F)

8-10 °d

1:1 M:F

Carnivore
Live Foods

5-8 years

Family

Esocidae



Additional names

Red Fin Pickerel, Grass Pickerel, Redfin Pickerel

Additional scientific names

Esox americanus


Tank compatibility[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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


Behaviour[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

External links[edit]