Kribensis- Will They Be Ok In My Tank?

[Spishkey]

i have a 500L community tank and have just been given the chance to have some kribensis very cheap. (two males two females, or i can just have 1 pair)

now in my tank there are a big mix of fish. is there anything here they wont get on with?

Angelfish
a variety of tetras (about 4 or 5 kinds)
mollys
platys
danios
killifish
plecos
corys
various catfish
lone gourami
wcmm

many thanks

 

[Davo86]

In fairness you have the space for the two pairs, but I'd simply go for just the one to avoid any disputes between them

 

[skittz]

The only ones that you may lose will be your tetra's. Kribs like smaller colourfull fish and will pick them all off one by one. Also I would recommend more female kribs than males as the males will fight over the females when they want to breed.

 

[kribensis12]

Also I would recommend more female kribs than males as the males will fight over the females when they want to breed.




^ that is probably the worst thing you could do. Kribs breed in pairs, not harems. The extra females will be bullied.

 

[STD]

In a tank your size the kribs should be fine

I doubt they will touch your tetras

 

[kribensis12]

^ you never know. They eat small fish In the wild, so if there is a slow swimming tetra........

 

[skittz]

ive found it better having say 2 males 4females but not everything is the same for everyone

my sister had alot of tetra's and fantail guppies and the kribs were the only other fish in with them and she lost the whole lot of tetras and guppies because of them

 

[Bungy]

In a tank that size I should think you would be fine with Kribs but stick to 1m and 2f to start with - once the females come into breeding condition they will flirt with the male for his attentions - you will eventually work out which is the dominant female so remove the other as she is likely to be killed by the alpha female. Digging will start and the female will dissapear for a few days to brood the young. The male will guard the entrance and become agressive to any bottom dwellers venturing too close. Once the brood have hatched both parents will guard the swarm of young to about 4 months.

My pair recently spawned and raised a successful brood but one day I noticed the female dead. Not sure why...! I bought a mature female as a replacement but she lasted only 3 days and again found her dead. Im not risking any other introductions at this stage but raising the young to pair off on their own to start again.

Hope this helps.

Bungy

 

[Spishkey]

thanks for all the advice. i bought two very young kribs (too young to sex) and have two adults 1 male 1 female. the female has a very round belly, very red/purplish colouring, could she be carrying eggs? she hates the male though, if he goes near her she shoos him away. she also does a strange thing which i can only describe as flaring? she 'sucks' onto the glass, shakes her head and body and flares out her gills and fins if you approach the tank, she is one aggressive lady!!

 

[Davo86]

she is one aggressive lady!!

Female kribs can be, I have one that won't tolerate another krib in the tank, (this is a 125G) and for about 2 years i considered her the boss of the tank, even when she was in with cichlids and other fish double her size.

 

[Spishkey]

is it likely she wont breed with being so aggresive and not letting a male near her? he has to stay on the other side of the tank, if he comes within 1.5m of her, she charges at him?

 

[Davo86]

is it likely she wont breed with being so aggresive and not letting a male near her? he has to stay on the other side of the tank, if he comes within 1.5m of her, she charges at him?

tbh you don't really want an aggressive krib breeding in a community tank,
For her to accept him, the Male has to act dominant and not back down when she chases him, then they might just pair up, but their are no guarantees,

 

[kribensis12]

What is with this kribs breeding in Harems nonsense? The adult kribs may bully the young ones, so watch out.

 

[skittz]

What is with this kribs breeding in Harems nonsense? The adult kribs may bully the young ones, so watch out.

Never said that they breed in Harems, its just that in my experience they are more likely to pair off if the male is given more than one female to chose from.

 

[hensonc4098]

We bought a pair straight from our lfs - they didn't have any choice in their partner yet they bred about a week ago - and kribensis12 gave me lots of good advice Even though your tank is big enough for 2 pairs (I'm envious ) you would be better sticking to the one as they are very territorial, especially if they breed.
As for tank mates, I have a shoal of 6 pink eye tetras which are only marginally bigger than neons, albeit not as colourful, but our pair of Kribs hasn't bothered them at all. If they have the space, which you do, then they should be fine

Claire