Krib

[kev]

I've seen a krib

heres a pic

Whats its proper name?
Is it common enough to get hold of - Do LFS order fish if they don't stock them

I hear they breed easily is this true (and they look after there a young?)

What size tank would be needed?

Are they active enough to keep alone? or what other fish can I keep with them?

Cheers guys

 

[Cheese Specialist]

A krib's scientific name is Pelvicachromis Pulcher.

They are easy to keep and easy to breed but as with all cichlids can be aggressive and especially when breeding. I have 2 breeding in my 160l tank at the moment and they are really aggressive with the other fish when guarding their fry. The smallest tank I would reccomend is a 100litre, more is better because the male can turn on the female in a small tank (happened to me in my 68litre).

They are also quite big fish when fully grown, to try and make things smooth between the fish try to make sure that the male is bigger than the female or the female will turn against him (this also happened to me with the ones that are breeding now, had to split them for months).

For breedingm they like 2 caves with oe small entrance. One for breeding, and the other as a choice. They breed readily for me but some have problems with them eating their fry the first time, but that's not something I have had.

The should not be kept alone as they will fight, at the very east you want some top dwelling 'dither' fish for the kribs to defend against (so they don't turn on each other). Avoid bottom dwellers as they would pose a threat to the fry. I keep mind with kissing gourami, tiger barbs, otos , a rainbow shark and 2 weather loaches.

They are commonly avaialable. I got one of my males in Pets At Home and they are worse than useless!! Places will usually order you fish in if you cannot find them.

 

[SirMinion]

krib is short for kribensis- an old taxanomic name now no longer in use except in the hobby.

They are excellent fish, tough as old boots and very entertaining.

 

[kev]

All good news - Tiger barbs are another of my favourites so could work out quite nicly

I know I should work in litre but everyone else uses gallon - *Off to find a convertor*

Ah so 100 Litre - is about 20 Gallons - Thats about a 3" tank - Again good news!!!

*off to have a look at ebay*

How dirty are they - Should I fit a more powerful filter then is needed for this size tank (just assume I stock with 6 Tiger barbs)

Can I really not have a plec??

What do they eat?

is sand suitable as a substrate

What about real plants??

All these questions

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Questions are good!

They are not too dirty but good filtration is always a good idea IMO, I alwasy buy a more pwerful filter than what the manufacturers say is needed. For an extra pound or 2 it's worth it.

You cannot have a plec in that size of tank anyway, sorry. They are very messy fish and need a lot of water to dilute their waste, even with the smaller breeds. If you upped to to a 30gallon and had plenty of wood and caves then you should be ok with a smaller breed of plec. For a 20gallon you could have otos (dwarf plecs), perhaps 3-4 would be good in there, especially with plants (also good algae eaters).

They eat whatever you give them I find, they love bloodworm and happily accept flake. They do not usually eat fromt he top but catch the food as it falls down the tank.

Sand is the best substrate for kribs IMO as they like to dig about a little (mind dug a cave under some wood for breeding) and also are very hen like in the way they are alwasy pickig off the sand.

Mine are totally fine with plants, you can see them (including fry pictures) from the link in my signature.

HTH. Anything else, just ask.

Edit: Just noticed your signature, my boyfriend is a mod on a GTA forum!! Won't see him for weeks when GTA SA comes out!

 

[kev]

Cheers for the help

Probably have more questions in the coming months - it all seems to be working out how I wanted - Probably go for the 30 Gallon anyway B)

Just planning ahead

Just noticed your signature, my boyfriend is a mod on a GTA forum!!  Won't see him for weeks when GTA SA comes out!

Glad you noticed - Don't think my wife would have a clue what the new GTA was called

 

[jumpman]

You could have a bristlenose ancistrus' in a tank that size. Some only get to 3 or 4 inches and are very good algae eaters too!

 

[Fawke]

Avoid bottom dwellers as they would pose a threat to the fry.

Hi ya CS,

I dont mean to hi-jack the thread, but do you reckon kribs would be ok with the 5 bottom dwellers i have? i have been considering getting a pair, with the male slightly larger.
I realise pictus without doubt would eat the fry, but i would try to seperate them should they breed......

What'dya reckon?

Cheers guys

good informative thread btw

 

[Cheese Specialist]

The kribs would be fine with a plec as long as they have seperate caves and pleanty to choose from. I am not so sure about the pictus. They would eat the fry if they got the chance and them trying would cause more aggression.

If you could seperate the pictus, that would be totally fine.

 

[nitro]

Some more krib questions.

At what age/size do pairs begin to form?

Do they need plants because im thinking of just having rocks and wood?