Breeding Kribs?

[Dunkal]

I bought a pair of kirbs. The male was bullying the female a lot during the fist days but now I have had them for 2 weeks they seem to be getting along really well. The female is taking a lot of sand from the coconut shells i have put in the tank. Are they ready to breed? If so how long is it before they lay eggs and they fry to arrive?The male is chasing most other fish and protects the shell. I have nevr kept Cilchids before so its really exciting.

 

[kribensis12]

Yeah they are ready to breed. Eggs hatch after 2-3 day's. Then they become wrigglers and will become free swimming after 3-4 more day's.

 

[The Mighty Boosh]

Hi sorry to hijack your thread, but I think my Krib's are about to breed very soon too.

The female is spending a lot of time in their 'house' (an upturned terracotta plant pot with a doorway cut out) and the male is vigorously defending that corner of the tank from all and sundry.

How many babies should I expect them to have? And how safe are they from predation by the other tank members? I have a 100 Litre tank (30g?) which is populated by various rainbow fish, a pair of (always hungry) golden wonder panchax, and a few of Cory cats and kuhli loaches.

Would it be better to move the entire family to a seperate tank? I'd have to buy one for this purpose, and when my brother tried it with his Kribs they all died

I'd really love to successfully breed them if I can

Thanks

 

[Dunkal]

The female Krib I have has been hiding in the coconut shell for a few days now and the male defending it.
I cant see any eggs yet, but when the female come out from the coconut shell she seems to have lost the purple belly she had. Could this mean she has laid the eggs??

 

[kribensis12]

Hi sorry to hijack your thread, but I think my Krib's are about to breed very soon too.

The female is spending a lot of time in their 'house' (an upturned terracotta plant pot with a doorway cut out) and the male is vigorously defending that corner of the tank from all and sundry.

How many babies should I expect them to have? And how safe are they from predation by the other tank members? I have a 100 Litre tank (30g?) which is populated by various rainbow fish, a pair of (always hungry) golden wonder panchax, and a few of Cory cats and kuhli loaches.

Would it be better to move the entire family to a seperate tank? I'd have to buy one for this purpose, and when my brother tried it with his Kribs they all died

I'd really love to successfully breed them if I can

Thanks

Around 100-300 average. The fry will be well protected. I would leave the lights on though for the next 3 week's after they hatch as the parents can loose track of them and the other's will eat them. When the parent are ready to breed again, move the babies in their own 20g or bigger. Make sure the tank is cycled, feed often, and do frequent water changes.

DUNKAL: I would say she layed. Got any pic's?

 

[Dunkal]

Sorry I dont know how to load pics on here.
Recently the female has been digging out sand out og another coconut shell and digging a hole in the sand to make a burrow beside a rock. I think she or the male might have ate the eggs??

 

[DarkEntity]

its not unusual for the Fish to eat the first 1-3 spawns as they learn what to do.

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[The Mighty Boosh]

its not unusual for the Fish to eat the first 1-3 spawns as they learn what to do.

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I think this might have happened...

We got a brood of what looked like 40-50 fry, who both parents guarded fiercely. They'd take them on day trips around the tank carefully shepherding them into a group with both parents standing guard.

When the light goes off at night I was worried how they'd keep the babies safe, so I left the light on longer than normal and they eventually returned to the house for the night

The parents started taking the babies to increasingly dangerous parts of the tank, and last night they were all up near the surface (!!!) and a bit too close for comfort to the filter.

I can no longer see any fry in the tank, the male has retreated back to the house and has been chasing and really beating up the female who was just skulking in the corner.

So I guess they need some parenting classes .... If the marriage survives

I am thinking of buying a small tank solely for the pair of Kribs to see if they would be more successful without any other fish to distract them.

 

[kribensis12]

Take the female out and re-condition her. Put her in her own little 10g and feed her Brine Shrimp( Adult's), Any Cichlid Flake that has a Good Reputation( New Life Spectrum Comes to mind, even though they dont make Cichlid Pellet's), do water changes often, make sur eyou have a good filter. Keep this upmfor 2-3 week's until she completely healthy and back to normal. Then re-arrange the male tank and put her back in. NOTE: Do treat the female for fin&tail rot, as it get's quite nasty.

 

[Dunkal]

I noticed yesterday that the female Krib had lost bits of ite tail and also the cherry barbs fins/tails were also torn.
Is this fin rot?? Will the tail grow back?? I dont have another tank to put them in.

 

[kribensis12]

As i said in my last post, you would do good to recondition her or there is a VERY GOOD chance the male will kill, her. I would put the barbs in w/ the female also. But dont put the barbs back in w/ the kribs.