Kribensis Behavior?

[Bm05891]

Hi guys! I posted this in the African cichlid forum but thought this would be a better section to get more answers from as no one seems to be reading the other section. But can't figure out how to delete the original post (newbie) anyways

Sorry if this is long winded but I've learned to just give all info needed so you guys don't have to ask for it! Lol
So I recently moved my 2 kribs into a breeding tank as the female was desperately trying to get the males attention but due to other larger more agressive fish in the tank he was too scared to show any interest.....the move was a tad stressful for him ( compared to the female who doesn't seem to have a care in the world he just seems to be a stress ball in general) anyways now they are in their new 72 litre tank with a few neons, heavily planted, with many places to hide. The female it sooo eager and has been shimmying and shaking and showing her belly infront of the cave the male has taken up residents in. The male just stares at her while she does this and if she gets to close he nudges her in the tummy and pushes her away (not too far) and then she just sits there with her tummy basically covering the entrance of the cave. Is this a case of the male just not fancying the female? She seems like she would have any male, but he wants nothing to do with her. I thought the, having their own space might help but im starting to think it might be a bad match and the poor girl must feel humiliated hahaha. It's only been about a week so he could just still be stressed from the move but the female has bounced right back.

P.s. good water parameters

Any advice/ info would be great

 

[Brahmza]

She probably smells fishy. Lol I had to. Not too sure IMO, seems quite odd behavior. I've never had kribs in the past, but this is the first time I'm hearing of them behaving like this heh. Best advice I can give is to pump the tank full of food, maybe add a few bottom feeders to pick up extras, and increase the food quality your feeding them (if you're feeding flake try live foods, etc). That's the only thing I can think of, unless he's just overly stressed. Maybe it's his first time. Can't just pressure a guy into something so serious .

 

[Bm05891]

It's quite funny to watch actually, he just pokes his head in and out of the cave and she sits at the front and when she sees him she gives a little shimmy and he darts back in. They have not spawned as I have been watching closely and it is obvious they haven't fully paired yet. But she's just sooo persistent and he is far too scared to be interested. He doesn't even come out of the cave. The move has traumatized him lol

 

[Discuslove]

It sounds like he is still a bit stressed, sounds like he has taken residents up in the cave and its his territory and he doesn't want to breed with the female. Maybe separate the pair for a while until the male feels more comfortable and ready. Feed bloodworms and brine shrimp and give them multiple caves so they don't just have one.