I think it's a female...

[Valkyrie]

I have one loosely-populated 40 gallon long community tank. It has one Golden Wonder Killifish, 4 swordtails, and a few small bottomfeeders (cory cats, kuhli loaches). It has sand substrate, good filtration, and lots of plants and caves. So I decided to try a kribensis. Perhaps a pair of them, but I'm not sure. I figured the krib would have plenty of room to stake out a territory and the other fish would have plenty of room to avoid it.

So, I got one female krib. Except that now I'm not entirely sure that it's a female. See, she has a nice plum-colored belly and a rounded tail fin and she's fairly round herself, but she also has an eyespot on her tail fin and a very pointed dorsal, and supposedly (from what I've read) those are male traits. As a result, I'm somewhat confused about what I have.

It wouldn't really matter much, but like I say, I'm thinking about rearranging the tank and adding a male (if she is, indeed, a female). I've checked with the petshop and if they don't get along, I can always return one. Of course, I don't know whether or not it would be a good idea to have a couple of breeding kribs in my tank as it is--would my 40 be spacious enough to allow relative harmony despite the presence of eggs/fry, or is it just a bad idea?

Thanks!

 

[fish_r_great]

This might help.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=43588

 

[Valkyrie]

Kribs are mouthbrooders?!

 

[fish_r_great]

I don't think so but, just ignore the spots

http/www.elmersaquarium.com/10cichlid_Kribensis.htm

 

[keane]

This might help.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=43588

[snapback]850435[/snapback]​

Not really. kribs aren't mouthbrooders .

Valkyrie, your krib is definitely a female.

The females have the redish belly, the curved tail fin and also a shorter dorsal fin than the males.

The male has a pointed tail fin and a much longer flowing dorsal fin. No red belly.

Egg spots are a red herring. Both males and females can have them so don't use this as a way of sexing.

hope this helps.

steve.

 

[fish_r_great]

Sorry I don't know what I was thinking. )

 

[Elisabeth83]

I'd say it sounds like you have a female. Can I just say I bought a pair myself last week for my 30 gallon. After finding out they dont like any bottom dwellers and can become very aggressive during breeding I moved my cories out. I then added some tetras to the tank. Yesteday the pair actually spawned and thats when things went down hill. The male killed one of my tetras and was chasing the rest of them. I had to make an emergency move of the tetras. This last week I've been reconsidering my purchase of the pair of kribs and yesterday I took them back to my lfs because I wasn't ready for something that aggressive. I'm going to get a pair of cockatoos or badis badis instead. Just as beautiful but not aggressive like the kribs.

Do you already have a pair? If your not looking to breed I would say just hang onto the female and dont get her a male. I was told keeping a male or female singley they are fine in a community tank. It's when they pair up and breed when things can go bad.

Good Luck

 

[black angel]

not a clear pic of the male but here are my pair. the female is on the bottom

 

[Valkyrie]

Thanks, guys! That clears things up.

When it comes to breeding them, I think I'd probably move the cories out, but could I keep the loaches? They usually only come out at night, so they might be safer. I think the swords might be okay because they can be pretty fiesty themselves and don't usually go to the bottom much. The killi would definitely be safe--he's a strict surface dweller.

 

[keane]

I'd say it sounds like you have a female. Can I just say I bought a pair myself last week for my 30 gallon. After finding out they dont like any bottom dwellers and can become very aggressive during breeding I moved my cories out. I then added some tetras to the tank. Yesteday the pair actually spawned and thats when things went down hill. The male killed one of my tetras and was chasing the rest of them. I had to make an emergency move of the tetras. This last week I've been reconsidering my purchase of the pair of kribs and yesterday I took them back to my lfs because I wasn't ready for something that aggressive. 

Good Luck

[snapback]850458[/snapback]​

This is what i am waiting for .

My kribs have always been totally placid for some bizarre reason, although they haven't yet spawned.

They share a cave with my four cories and there has never been a problem. They appear at the moment to be "on holiday" though, because for the past few days they have been happily chilling out in a pot that is, and always has been, home to my three clown loaches.

Just as a side question, does anyone know why they have done this? Six plus months in one cave and then suddenly they are lodging with clowns.

Unless I have four super aggressive cories that have bullied the kirbs out!!



thanks (and sorry for hijacking!)

steve