Kribs?

[Guppi32011]

I am going to lfs tommorow and thinking of getting a pair of kribs. I have a 20 gallon tank with a bristlenose pleco as a bottom feeder, tiger barbs, neons and platys as other fish. Would they be ok or will they be aggresive?

 

[fishprotector]

It already sounds pretty stocked to be honest with you. How many of each species do you currently have?

 

[Guppi32011]

It already sounds pretty stocked to be honest with you. How many of each species do you currently have?

5 barbs, 6 neons which i am transfering to 10 gallon and 2 platys

 

[fishprotector]

So the BN, 5 Barbs and 2 Platys will be in the 20G. In that case go for it and up the Barb numbers to 10 as you really need that many to keep agression within the group.

 

[kribensis12]

I don't agree with "fishprotector". In my experience, barbs are not good fish for kribensis cichlids. Kribs are very placid and gentle fish, which don't normally dart about. In the case of barbs, they are quick moving and mindless; more so when they are in a small tank (20g isn't super big). If you wan't the kribensis, then go for them. Do not leave them with the barbs though. They stress the kribs out and I've seen kribs loose a lot of their confidence in the tank because of this. Sometimes the kribs get murderous and decide to take down the barbs. If you wanted to keep the BN with the kribs, and give them several caves- then I say go for it. I could also see the platies being eaten if they are small enough.

 

[Guppi32011]

I don't agree with "fishprotector". In my experience, barbs are not good fish for kribensis cichlids. Kribs are very placid and gentle fish, which don't normally dart about. In the case of barbs, they are quick moving and mindless; more so when they are in a small tank (20g isn't super big). If you wan't the kribensis, then go for them. Do not leave them with the barbs though. They stress the kribs out and I've seen kribs loose a lot of their confidence in the tank because of this. Sometimes the kribs get murderous and decide to take down the barbs. If you wanted to keep the BN with the kribs, and give them several caves- then I say go for it. I could also see the platies being eaten if they are small enough.

Yeah i thought the same, not having them now. My tiger barbs are not very aggresive and do not harm the platys, but kribs at the end of the day are cichlids and could get nasty. Thanks.

 

[SharkWeek]

I don't agree with "fishprotector". In my experience, barbs are not good fish for kribensis cichlids. Kribs are very placid and gentle fish, which don't normally dart about. In the case of barbs, they are quick moving and mindless; more so when they are in a small tank (20g isn't super big). If you wan't the kribensis, then go for them. Do not leave them with the barbs though. They stress the kribs out and I've seen kribs loose a lot of their confidence in the tank because of this. Sometimes the kribs get murderous and decide to take down the barbs. If you wanted to keep the BN with the kribs, and give them several caves- then I say go for it. I could also see the platies being eaten if they are small enough.

It realy depends what kind of barbs, like gold and rosey barbs are peacefull

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

It already sounds pretty stocked to be honest with you. How many of each species do you currently have?

5 barbs, 6 neons which i am transfering to 10 gallon and 2 platys

Tiger Barbs in a 10g? Sounds a terrible idea unless it was to QT an ill fish.

What are the dimensions of this 20g?

Kribs are just like my Lionhead Cichlids, usually "quiet little pussy cats" in a community when not breeding, but when breeding turn into the devil incarnate! To give you some idea, my breeding Lionheads killed my 8cm last male Humphead Glassfish; 8cm male Golden Wonder Killifish; 8cm African Butterfly Fish late October last year... in a 120x41x51cm Rio240. They had four ~10cm Leopard Bushfish so terrified in the corner that 1cm fry could bounce right past their predatory mouths and not be touched.

The safest tankmates for a pair of Kribs are ones that are mighty fast swimmers, can take a knock or two and keep well away from the bottom six inches or more. In a 3-foot tank, a group of Bleeding Heart Tetras, Yellow Tail Congo Tetra or African Red Eye Barbs would fit the bill... but these fish need the lengthy tank to put their speed to good use and at least have some chance of peace from the Kribs.