Giant Pikehead
Boulengerella cuvieri
The Giant Pikehead (Boulengerella cuvieri) is a peaceful fish that's rewarding to keep. Give it a tank of at least 135 litres (36 US gallons), water held at 72-79°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
South America
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Giant Pikehead Tank Setup
Treat 135 litres (36 US gallons) as a starting point - big predators need length, strong filtration, and a secure lid. Hold the water at 72-79°F and pH 6.5-7.5, and assume anything small enough to swallow will eventually be eaten. They reach about 20 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do Giant Pikeheads Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Giant Pikehead Tank Mates
The Giant Pikehead is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's predatory, so anything small enough to fit in its mouth will be treated as food rather than a companion. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Giant Pikeheads Good for Beginners?
Care demand varies by line and setup. Match the care level to how often you actually test and change water.
Giant Pikehead - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Giant Pikeheads need?
Giant Pikeheads need a tank of at least 135 litres (36 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Giant Pikeheads need?
Keep them at 72-79°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Giant Pikeheads eat?
Giant Pikeheads are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Giant Pikeheads good for beginners?
It depends on the setup. Match Giant Pikeheads to how often you actually test water and perform maintenance.
Common mistakes with Giant Pikeheads
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 135 litres (36 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check Giant Pikehead against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with Giant Pikeheads
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Zebra DanioFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
- Neon TetraSize risk - Giant Pikeheads will likely eat Neon Tetra at adult size
