Krib Ripped Fins

[lukestanislaus]

hi

a while ago (2mnths approx) i was given 2 kribs from a guy i know who was getting rid of his tanks, he said it was a male and female, the bigger one doesnt like the smaller one much but whatever its not really the issue

1 had ripped fins and it has since almost doubled in size and seems pretty healthy, bright colours, active etc as you can see in the photo. however the ripped fins didnt heal and im thinking they probably wont. i would be extremely surprised if it had anything to do with the tankmates since the fish in question is the biggest and most aggressive fish in the tank

is this a deformity, a disease or just an injury that isnt going to heal? should i worry about this at all, will this be a hindrance to future breeding with that fish if i choose to try breeding kribs?

heres a picture of both kribs, the smaller one was smaller when i got it, if anyone could sex them for me that would be cool. i jsut assumed the bigger one was the male and the smaller a female but i really dont know

you can see the damage is 2 rips on the tail fin and on the dorsal fin

thanks

 

[kribensis12]

Hate to break it to you but those are both males. A female has a rounded deep colored fat stomach, also, her fins are rounded and not pointed, and i have noticed that females dont have very thich stipes( sometimes none at all).

 

[lukestanislaus]

ok thats cool, what do you suggest i do? i have 2 tanks, should i separate them? do i need to get a female for each one?

come to think of it the big one does pick on the little one a bit heh

any idea about the fins?

 

[fishwatcher]

I would see if you could trade one in for a female, or at least separate them. As for the fins, try melafix or pimafix... that should help.

 

[kribensis12]

I dont usually treat for fins cause my fish are usually healthy enough to fight it off. I definatly suggest that you trade in the smaller male in for the biggest female you can find. But maake sure you re-arrange your tank before putting her in.

 

[lukestanislaus]

is it likely that a female i buy will be rejected or harassed or whatever? how should i approach this?

 

[kribensis12]

Go buy the biggest fattest female, take her home, re-arrange the tank so the male wont be familar with the territory, adn make sure there are plenty of hidding places. 9 out of 10 times the male will accept her, the other 1/10 she will attack the male instead. They are funny little fish though.

 

[roseK]

yes i have a male and female and they are quite fun to watch. its almost like a trailer park family if u ask me.. where the husband trys to beat the wife, but then the wife starts beating him.. ahaha....

ANYWAY my male has started to get tattered fins too and i am using melafix. i just noticed it tho this morning, while ive been treating the tank with mela for awhile since one fish seemed to have fin rot.

they are a pairing fish, but its not too bad if u leave two males together, as long as u dont add a female with the two because then she will suffer alot of abuse. the males will nip abit but... yea..

mine had trouble pairing off at first, the male always nipped the female, so i put him in another tank for awhile because she was swimming high in the corner of the tank and i was worried..

but now i think they like each other and they go on little adventures with each other around the tank, its so cute.

but the male likes the pots/cave alot more than the female, and at times i have thought they were laying eggs... but they arent.. i guess they dont love each other that much.

but i can tell the female is trying to "seduce" the male, showing off her red belly and vibrating. but he just isnt getting it...

there they are. adventuring together. the male is camera shy tho