Info On Kribensis

[shrimply]

HI, I have just joined because I am very happy to say I have had a pair of young kribensis chichlids for about a month and have just seen a lot of young.

I am only 15 and a casual fish keeper and these are the very first fish to breed. They probably aren't in perfect conditions with less than perfect caves and a tank only big enough to keep a fully grown pair of them and a couple of glowlight tetras. It is a small tank which I keep in my bedroom originally mean't for goldfish which I have now given up on.

I would however like to keep a few young to put into my 3 ft tank in the living room ( which I currnetly trying to turn into a planted aquarium).

So here come the questions. Do they need to be kept with the parents or are they just as capable surving on thier own. I have read that they can be fed on young brine shrimp and crushed fish food. Is this correct and when do they start needing to be fed.

I know I am unable to keep the all and wondered when is the best time to thin them off and what do I look for in a good specimen. Is it a good idea to feed the young I am not keeping to my other fish.

I am sure I have missed some questions out so any other info is very much appreciated.

A picture of the tank

Some pics of the fish and young

 

[FroggFrogg]

Cool, i kept Kribs once. Great fish. I never bred them though so im not sure about the young.

 

[shrimply]

Thanks they are reallt pretty fish and so easy to keep.

 

[willtang3000]

you should feed them now strait away they need lots of feeding!!! feed them liquifry no1 for one week 3-4 times a day then move onto brine shrimp after that

keep them with the parents till they are say 1/2 1 inch and then you can put them in that 3ft make sure you have a sponge filter instead of an electric internal filter

and hey iam only 13 lol

 

[shrimply]

I will be going to the fish shop on Friday. Will they wait till then.

In the small tank there is an internal filter. Will it be alright if I just remove it?
In the big tank there is an undergravel filter. Is this a problem.

Thanks.

 

[willtang3000]

they might but then again better safe then sorry get some fish flakes put it in a tissue and grind it really really small and feed if not get a stone or sumthin and crush a pellet finely and feed

 

[black angel]

Awww Galashiels. I have rellies in berwick. Anyhooo. The young will be fine with the parents but sometimes they will eat them so its best in a tank so small to take the male out. What fish have you got in the three foot or is it just being set up as you will need to cycle it first.

 

[shrimply]

The three ft has been running for a couple of years it contains mainly small tetras

2 congo
2 black widow
2 white cloud mountain minnows
3 neon tetras
1 harliquin
2 gold tetras
1 platy

Is it possible to seperate a few of the young completely into an ice-cream tub on the top of the tank and leave the rest with the parents to see what happens(I have limited space)

Completely of topic but is there a spell check I can't find one and trust me I need it.

 

[shrimply]

OK I went to the fish shop today and bought liquifry.

After a talk with the owner we decided on a plan of action.

First I removed the glowlight tertas and put the in the 3ft tank
In about a months time I will move both parents into the 3ft tank leaving the young on their own. About a month later the young will be old enough to sort out.

Since it is a deep tank and not that powerful filtration system the man says that the internal filter should be fine and the parents will make sure the young are not in too much danger.

Do you think this sounds alright.

How often and for how long should I feed the liquifry and what next.

Do you think what I have decided to do is alright.

Thanks for the info.

 

[shrimply]

Just removed male too as the female started fending him off. Young have started moving around a lot more.

 

[Tabbiespice]

Hiya

I have just had a batch of Krib babies too and too I am at a loss as to what to do with them

Some say that they will be eaten when the parents want to spawn again which could be as early as 3 weeks!
Some say leave them with their parents
Some say to raise the fry on their own

I dont have a clue

Good luck

 

[shrimply]

Ha Ha,

I have just replyed to yours and given you some of the info I do now know.

It would appear that most people just don't have time for novices like us.

 

[Weaver]

My first experience with krib fry ended when the female killed the male and then proceeded to eat the fry
They however were first time parents
The usual thing is that they will look after the fry until they decide to breed again and then the fry can quickly turn into lunch
You have done right in removing the male if he was starting to get aggressive.
They will feed on the tiny algae and bits and bobs found in the tank.You can also feed finely crushed flakefood.
Most krib are excellent parents but you do get some rogue ones and the advice people give is usually based on their own experience.
I also agree the filter should not be a problem

 

[black angel]

If you want to raise them then you really need to make sure you can find homes for them. Most pet shops wont take kribs but if you are lucky then maybe you might find one that will.

 

[Tabbiespice]

Yes I heard that most shops wont take them.....why is that? Is it because they can be fairly prolific?

My lfs have taken the odd fish off of me......not sure if they would take a whole brood.

I doubt these will survive to maturity but if they do then I can try and if the lfs wont take them then I will have to keep them or try to get my mates to develop sudden interest in keeping Kribs