Kribensis

[Hardlife91]

Hello,
Last week i purchased a pair of kribs from a good local dealer (timmermans water world nottingham). Ever since day 3 they have been fighting and nipping eachother, the male has had half its tailed nipped off i have tried putting it in a breeding net for a few days to let it try and heal and it has but as soon as i put them back they were fighting again.
Should i take them back?

All water conditions are perfect, it is a well planted aquarium with 2 hiding spots.

Any ideas on getting them to stop?

 

[Gilli]

Could be 2 males or even if you have a pair its not guaranteed they will like each other! Kribs are very territorial. Do you have more than one cave? If not it could be the cave they are fighting over. I have 2 males in my tank but each has his own cave at different ends of a large tank, and apart from the odd squabble they live quite peacefully together.

I would say leave it and see how it goes cos it might settle down, but if its that bad I would return both or one because if its well planted and they are still bashing seven levels of sh%%e out of each other then chances are one of them will be seriously hurt.

 

[Hardlife91]

They are still quite young (2 inches each) however i believe they are male and female.
I can get pictures to show you?

 

[Gilli]

Its easy to sex kribs, female will be smaller, rounded belly which will colour up red when in breeding mode. The top of her fin will be transparent at the end and be slightly rounded and if shes mature will have some golden yellow in it. Males will have a pattern all the way along and end in a point.

 

[Hardlife91]

Its the female bullying the male

 

[Tizer]

Story of my life.

How big is the tank?

 

[Miles_hot]

Sometimes they just don't like another I understand that some people buy a number, see which pair off and return the others. Another alternative is to buy ready paired (or even mated) ones... if she doesn't like him it could be fatal so keep an eye on it

 

[Gilli]

If they are still fighting i would return them or one of them. Even though when fully grown the female is half the size of the male (if that!) she is still capable and can kill the male!