Kirb Tank Mates?

[Fraoch]

Hi,
i am thinking about getting a new tank set up, 150-250 liters, and i was thinking about having a pair of kribs. I would like to set it up to be quite open with light sand and driftwood but i dont know whether kribs like that or not?
Also what tank mates would you recommend? Maybe some small shoaling fish, tetras?
But i would like the kribs (even though they're quite small) to be the main fish in the tank and the biggest! (couldnt find a big peaceful fish i liked to be center stage!)

 

[KittyKat]

Kribs like a few caves, but apart from that are not picky. Sand or fine gravel also lets them dig.

I would stock the following:
* 1 pair of kribs
* 15-25 schooling fish of one species (Tetras or Rasboras).. how about cardinal or rummy nosed tetras?
* 6 Corys or 1m 2f bristlenose plecos

 

[Ben M]

hi i think that the small shoaling fish are a good idea (although make sure they aren't too small, as my krib ate a couple of tiny copper harlequins). also, make sure that there is plenty of room in the tank; the bigger the tank the better, as the kribs get very aggressive towards other fish when breeding, and if the other fish can't get away then they are likely to be injured.

i have found that tiger barbs are a good fish to keep with kribs, as they are very tough, and aren't easily bullied. a big shoal of them would look great.

also, corys are a definite no no. especially with a breeding pair of kribs they will be attacked. i had to separate my kribs from my corys as the corys were constantly being bullied, and that was when they weren't breeding.

i'm not sure about the BN's, as i've not kept them with kribs, but but i'd be wary about introducing and bottom dwellers with the kribs.

i hope this doesn't put you off kribs though, as they are great little characters, but you've got to be very careful of the sticking with them (i learnt this the hard way).

cheers

 

[kiriyama]

I had 1 male and 3 females in a 95ltr/20 gal with 14 lemon tetras and they were fine, they could push my corries about occassionally and nipped the shrimp form time to time, I wasnt read up on the species but they worked fine with the lemon tetra

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I'd say go with an African theme...

3 African Butterfly up top (although predatory, Kribs would normally stay near the floor of the tank) or Congo Bushfish (Microctenopoma congicum, which max out at 8cm and so much less of a threat than C. acutirostre)
8-10 Congo Tetra or "Debauwi Catfish" (almost always P. buffei) or Yellowtail Congo Tetra in mid-water
6 Upside Down Catfish (Synodontis nigriventris) at all levels

 

[Fraoch]

Well how about dwarf ram cichlids? i'm kind of looking for a more peaceful aquarium? Maybe a pair of rams or angelfish?
Are there any more choices for peaceful cihclids or is it really only kribs and rams?
I would really prefer a really colourful aquarium with a lot of variety.

 

[chishnfips]

I would say BN's would be ok with kribs, they are pretty tough, I used to keep them with my mbuna's and they coped with them fine.

 

[KittyKat]

Well how about dwarf ram cichlids?

Rams would go well, either blue or Bolivian. Blue rams are more picky.

[...]or angelfish?

I would personally say tank is too small. I found that they work best in groups of 6+ which I would not want to keep in a tank smaller than 4×2×2ft.. but people do keep them in ones and twos in much smaller tanks.

Are there any more choices for peaceful cihclids or is it really only kribs and rams?

Cockatoos? Pretty much any other SA dwarf cichlid?

 

[Fraoch]

Well how about dwarf ram cichlids?

Rams would go well, either blue or Bolivian. Blue rams are more picky.

[...]or angelfish?

I would personally say tank is too small. I found that they work best in groups of 6+ which I would not want to keep in a tank smaller than 4×2×2ft.. but people do keep them in ones and twos in much smaller tanks.

Are there any more choices for peaceful cihclids or is it really only kribs and rams?

Cockatoos? Pretty much any other SA dwarf cichlid?

thank you, i think maybe a pair of blue rams and would kissing gouramis be ok with them?
are corys ok with rams?

 

[chishnfips]

Corys ill be ok with rams, If you need to source any fish, I dont know if you know or not. There is a good place in lossie called D.I tropicals. Which I appreciate is miles from you. There is also a guy in Evanton who can source fish (Ihave got my entire stock from him). You can find him on gum tree, or I can get you his number if you like.

 

[KittyKat]

Yes to Corys, no to kissing gouramis. Many people advise to keep blue rams at high temperatures, which some Corys can not tolerate.

 

[Fraoch]

Yes to Corys, no to kissing gouramis. Many people advise to keep blue rams at high temperatures, which some Corys can not tolerate.

why cant kissing gouramis be kept with rams?

 

[Fraoch]

Corys ill be ok with rams, If you need to source any fish, I dont know if you know or not. There is a good place in lossie called D.I tropicals. Which I appreciate is miles from you. There is also a guy in Evanton who can source fish (Ihave got my entire stock from him). You can find him on gum tree, or I can get you his number if you like.

Thank you, i wont be getting any fish just yet

 

[KittyKat]

Yes to Corys, no to kissing gouramis. Many people advise to keep blue rams at high temperatures, which some Corys can not tolerate.

why cant kissing gouramis be kept with rams?

Mainly because rams are 5-6cm long and kissing gouramis are 30cm.. the gouramis will probably pick on the rams a treat.

 

[Fraoch]

Yes to Corys, no to kissing gouramis. Many people advise to keep blue rams at high temperatures, which some Corys can not tolerate.

why cant kissing gouramis be kept with rams?

Mainly because rams are 5-6cm long and kissing gouramis are 30cm.. the gouramis will probably pick on the rams a treat.

ah ok, i feel i bit stupid now, its a bit obvious
can kribs stay with them? or are they too small aswell?