Bay Snook (Petenia splendida) Care Guide
Petenia splendida, the bay snook, is a large piscivorous cichlid with a highly protrusible mouth, from Atlantic-slope waters of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.
Overview
Petenia splendida, the bay snook, is a large predatory cichlid. FishBase records it from the Atlantic slope from the Grijalva River to the Usumacinta River in Mexico, the Usumacinta in Guatemala, and Belize. It has an elongated body and a strongly protrusible mouth, and occurs in red and silver morphs.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Petenia
- Scientific name: Petenia splendida
Habitat
It is a freshwater, demersal species inhabiting lakes and lower river valleys, preferring slower-moving waters with a soft substrate of sand and mud (FishBase).
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 800 L
- Temperature: 26-30 °C (79-86 °F)
- pH: 7.0-7.5
- GH: 8-18 °dGH
- Maximum size: about 50 cm SL
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
Diet
It is a piscivore. FishBase states it feeds on fish, and its jaws can extend more than a quarter of the body length, allowing it to take large prey or suck small fish directly into the mouth.
Compatibility
The bay snook is aggressive and requires a large dedicated tank. Tank mates must be limited to large, robust Central American cichlids or large plecos; most other fish are unsuitable.
Breeding
It is a substrate spawner with advanced breeding difficulty. Males are larger and show more pronounced red coloration, while females tend to be rounder.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed in 2018. The species is also important to local commercial fisheries.