Hujeta Gar / Freshwater Barracuda
Ctenolucius hujeta
The Hujeta Pike Characin is a torpedo-shaped surface predator from South America. While peaceful alongside large tankmates, it requires a tightly covered, long aquarium to stalk its prey safely.
Water Temperature
22 - 28 °C
pH Value
6.5 - 7.5
Water type
Freshwater
Tank level
Surface
Adult size
25 cm
Minimum tank volume
>= 300 L
Minimum group
>= 1
GH
4 - 15 dGH
KH
2 - 7 dKH
TDS
80 - 295 ppm
Conductivity
125 - 461 uS/cm
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: South America (Magdalena River basin and coastal rivers of Venezuela). Hunts by waiting motionless near the surface, sheltered by floating vegetation in calm lagoons and oxbow lakes.
Taxonomy and Morphology: Hujeta Pike Characin / Gar Characin (Ctenolucius hujeta). It is not a pike or a gar, but a predatory Characin. Elongated and extremely tapered shape; extended upper mouth full of needle-like teeth.
Social Behavior: Although a predator, it is actually a shy, calm and gregarious fish. Should be kept in small groups (4-6 specimens); if kept singly it becomes very nervous and darts terrified against the glass.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Silvery or iridescent golden livery with conspicuous scales. Has a conspicuous black spot at the base of the caudal fin. Females grow much larger and are more massive in the abdomen, males develop longer and jagged anal fins.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Aquarium Setup: Needs very long tanks (minimum 150 cm / 60 inches) tightly covered to prevent disastrous leaps. Keep the upper area clear for swimming, with large clumps of floating plants on the sides for lying in wait.
Diet and Feeding: Strictly piscivorous/carnivorous. Devours live fish, but must absolutely be weaned (with patience) to dead fish, shelled shrimp, mussels and squid strips administered via tweezers on the surface. Ignores sinking food or vegetable pellets.
Water Quality: Requires strong oxygenation and water free of nitrogenous compounds, as large fish fed meat pollute a lot. Oversized biological filtration, but gentle outlet flow so as not to disturb them on the surface.
Compatibility and Cohabitation: Peaceful with those who do not fit in its mouth (fish over 6 cm / 2.5 inches). Excellent with bottom Loricariids, Geophagus, large Tetras, and calm Cichlids. Forbidden with pufferfish, fin-nippers (Tiger Barbs) or violent cichlids.
Aquarium Breeding: Rare. Well-matched pairs lay large quantities (up to 1000) of non-adhesive eggs, scattering them in open waters or among floating vegetation, and then lose interest or prey on them.
Risks and Diseases: The elongated snout is very delicate: collisions against the glass due to panic cause jaw fractures that are almost always fatal or fungal infections on the snout ("beak fungus").
Geographic Origin and Distribution
South America (Magdalena River basin and coastal rivers of Venezuela). Hunts by waiting motionless near the surface, sheltered by floating vegetation in calm lagoons and oxbow lakes.
Origin
Extra-Amazon South America
Fish profile
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Despite being a voracious predator, the Hujeta Gar is generally peaceful and easily intimidated by boisterous tank mates. It poses a threat only to fish small enough to be considered prey. When housed with appropriately sized companions, it is a calm and fascinating surface dweller.
- Diet
- Omnivore
- It is a strict carnivore, naturally preying on small fish and insects at the water's surface. In captivity, it can be trained to accept meaty frozen or prepared foods such as krill, silversides, and floating carnivore pellets. Live feeder fish can be offered occasionally but should be quarantined first to prevent disease introduction.
- Life expectancy
- 5-8 years
- The Hujeta Gar is a hardy predatory fish that typically lives for 5 to 8 years in captivity when provided with proper care and a spacious environment. Achieving their maximum lifespan requires maintaining excellent water quality, avoiding stress, and providing a varied, species-appropriate carnivorous diet. A secure aquarium cover is also crucial, as jumps are a common cause of premature death.
- Adult size
- 25 cm
- The catalog's scalar value is 25 cm. The FishBase SPECIES table (v25.04 snapshot) source reports a maximum adult measurement of 26 cm for this species, recorded as standard length (SL). The taxonomic record consulted is Ctenolucius hujeta (v25.04); male or unsexed record. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
- Sex ratio
- Group
- Females generally grow noticeably larger and have a more robust, deeper body than males, especially when carrying eggs. Males tend to be slimmer and slightly more colorful, particularly around the anal fin. While they can be kept in small groups, a specific sex ratio is not strictly required unless attempting to breed.
- Feeding frequency
- Twice daily
- Juveniles require frequent feeding, about two to three times a day, to support their rapid growth rate. Adults have a slower metabolism and generally only need to be fed once a day or every other day. Care should be taken not to overfeed, as uneaten meaty foods quickly degrade water quality.
- Bioload
- The Hujeta Gar produces a moderately high bioload due to its carnivorous diet and predatory nature. As it grows and consumes larger meaty foods, it generates significant waste that requires robust filtration. Frequent, large water changes are necessary to keep nitrate levels manageable and ensure optimal health.
- Flow
- Stagnant
- The Hujeta Gar prefers areas of calm or slow-moving water, similar to the stagnant pools and sluggish rivers it inhabits in the wild. While some filtration current is necessary, strong powerheads or turbulent surface flow should be avoided. A gentle return flow provides adequate oxygenation without exhausting the fish.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- Breeding the Hujeta Gar in home aquariums is rare but not impossible for dedicated hobbyists. They are egg scatterers that prefer to spawn among dense floating vegetation. The fry are highly cannibalistic and require immediate separation and grading by size, along with a constant supply of live micro-foods.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- This predatory fish will readily consume any tank mate small enough to fit into its mouth. It should only be kept with similarly sized or larger, peaceful to semi-aggressive fish that are too big to be eaten. Avoid overly aggressive or fin-nipping species that might harass the somewhat delicate Hujeta Gar.
- Tank level
- Top
- This species is almost exclusively a top-dwelling fish, spending the vast majority of its time hovering just below the water surface. It stalks its prey from this vantage point, using its upward-facing mouth to snatch food. Floating plants can help provide cover and make them feel more secure at the surface.
Scientific Parameters & Models
FishBase
Window to the official scientific data of the species
Data synced on: 06/15/2026
- Trophic level
- 4.2 ± 0.73 se
- Resilience
- Medium (1.4 - 4.4 years)
- Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50)
- 0.7578
- Bayesian Length-Weight
- a = 0.00447, b = 3.1
- VulnerabilityLow vulnerability (22 / 100)
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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