Kribs

[chishnfips]

I am being offered some Kribs but I am unsure about them, what are they like. I have done a bit of google on them but could do with some deeper info.



Ta folks

 

[ted28]

I have a male and female in my 33 US Gallon, with 6 rasbora, 4 danio and 2 oto. I find the male very aggressive. I had to rehome 4 cory cats because they had there fins nipped by the male krib. I went by many web sites that said cories go well with them, THEY DON'T!!! Every so often he shoots up into the middle of the danios and rasboras and scares the bejesus out of them. they swim away no problem. Terrors with personality and good looks

 

[lljdma06]

I have kept kribs for quite a while in S. FL. Though it is a joy to watch them breed and raise fry, they are very territorial when breeding and need to be paired with fish that can get away from them when the kribs decide to show them who's boss. They are a smaller cichlid species and though books say they can be housed in smaller tanks, I don't think I'd consider kribs again unless the tank was at least 55g, especially when housed with other fish.

If the kribs were buy themselves, you could probably go as small as a 20g, if you rehoused the growing fry. Previously, I kept them in a 29g in a community situation, but that was a long time ago and I wouldn't do it again. They were then moved to a 45g hex. Not a great tank, it was a royal pain to clean, but because it was taller, the kribs actually bothered the other fish less because they had their own space near the bottom levels of the tank.

I also kept them with danios as they were fast enough to get away from them. I had originally thought about setting up a large tank, 75g+, witch congos, upside-down catfish, and a breeding pair of kribs, but the more I think of it, the more I don't like the idea of mixing such a pugnacious species with such a docile one.

I hope this information helps a little. They are easy to breed, and I loved them when I had them, but they can get agressive, as anybody would when guarding young. The young are super cute, though!

I was very, very lucky, I had a great pair (George and Gracie). They were awesome parents, and they never hurt each other. When George died, he would defend his broods so strongly that I think he never really recovered well between breeding, a mistake I made early on, I tried to find another mate for Gracie, but she new better, and damaged the new male who was moved. She lived the rest of her life alone with some of her daughters from past spawns, which she seemed to like being around. She died soon after George did. Her daughter, however, was mated to the new male and they got along alright, though she was always more nippy of him than Gracie was with her George. Now I'm getting sad.

 

[parker313]

I have a male and female in my 33 US Gallon, with 6 rasbora, 4 danio and 2 oto. I find the male very aggressive. I had to rehome 4 cory cats because they had there fins nipped by the male krib. I went by many web sites that said cories go well with them, THEY DON'T!!! Every so often he shoots up into the middle of the danios and rasboras and scares the bejesus out of them. they swim away no problem. Terrors with personality and good looks

I agree, that was my experience as well. I have a 46g bowfront and the kribs rule the tank. They made short work of my cories, but the serpaes and severums definitely hold their own, mainly b/c they have the sense to get out of the way

I love them, the colors on the male when he's in the mood for spawning are just gorgeous.

 

[The-Wolf]

my pair of kribs are currently in a 20g tank
with discus tetra, black widow tetras and pentazona barbs.

I have found that they dislike, with a passion, the presance of any other bottom dweller.
I had them with apple snails at one time but
a ) they kept nipping at their breathing tubes &
b ) they kept rolling them (the snails) out of "their" territory

I guess what I'm saying is
keep with fast fish as ditherers and don't keep with bottom dwellers or snails.

 

[Weaver]

I found that when I had a breeding pair it was mayhem
However after the female killed the male and ate her fry she lost all her aggression and lived quite peacefully with my bolivian ram and zebra loaches.I was advised in here that a single male or female krib will be quite happy on its own

 

[benzonar]

If you are looking for something a bit different to the common krib then consider Pelvicachromis Taeniatus (wild krib). IMHO they are more colourful than the common krib and currently there are about 12 different colour morphs.

They do tend to be more expensive than normal kribs, expect to pay around £16 a pair from an lfs. You should get them cheaper from a private breeder.

I have a pair of "Bipindi" colour morphs and they are great. I have found them to be less aggressive than normal kribs. My male is terrified of my BNs and the zebra loaches just ignore the Bipindis.

Look out for the "Dehane" morph, also Kienk, Bipindi and Moliwe.

A good place to view the different types is http/www.apistogramma.com/cms/Pelvicachr...omis_taeniatus/

Also if anyone comes across one of these http/www.apistogramma.com/cms/Pelvicachr...s_sp._Blue_Fin/

then please let me know.

 

[chishnfips]

they sound quite hard to please with tank mates, I have red honey gouramims, a pleco, silvertip tetras, xray tetras and some barbs.

How do you think they would fit in?

Wolf mentioned they dont like other bottom dwellers.

 

[bluefire]

ive found that as long as only one is kept in a tank they will be fine

 

[AnthonyRobinson666]

loaches work better with kribs than corys, faster smarter, and more energetic...
straita whould be ideal not too large nor to small...

ARobinson

 

[Ferris]

they sound quite hard to please with tank mates, I have red honey gouramims, a pleco, silvertip tetras, xray tetras and some barbs.

How do you think they would fit in?

Wolf mentioned they dont like other bottom dwellers.

I would say the honey gourami's would be in for a very tough ride, they are slow and too striking in appearance for a Krib to ignore. The tetra's and barb's should be fine and if the plec is one of the larger varieties like a common or sailfin, that too should be fine.

 

[chishnfips]

I think I might just pass up this opportunity, I really like my gouramis and would hate for them to be stressed out and then croak it.

the kribs are smart though.

 

[blackfinshark_3]

i would personnaly ditch the gouramis and get with the kribs.

they leave my khuli loaches alone.

ive got a pair of bolivian rams and a pair of kribs in a 35g long. i know the extra 5g matters but when one pair ull start breeding if the others get stressed i will move them to their own cauzy tank