Stocking For 14 Gallon Tank

[Assaye]

I have a 14 gallon tank with a yellow panchax and a male kribensis. I'm looking for a couple of other mid-sized fish that can hold their own against these two. Thinking of a 5-6 inch plec of some sort, but what else? I want to get betta imbellis, but I think they'll be too small and would be bullied? I've got a betta in there temporarily, but he's in a massive breeding trap. I'm a bit worried about letting him loose with the krib.


Due to the need for terriatory and the size of the fish, I obviously don't want to add too much, and everyone will be moved to my 23 gallon in the summer when I move house. Just looking for a couple of other fish.

 

[Honeythorn]

You could try a Dwarf Gourami perhaps, or a big male molly or a couple of platies?

 

[Assaye]

You could try a Dwarf Gourami perhaps, or a big male molly or a couple of platies?

Nah, not keen on gouramis and the ones I like I can't really get hold of. A molly could work . . . would one be OK in his own? What about a sailfin? Do they need brackish or would he be OK? Nice fish. What about a male swordtail? . . . platies are a possibility (they've grown on me) but wouldn't they be a bit small? The krib and the panchax are pretty boisterous.

Do you think I could let the betta out of his trap? Don't like him being cooped up but it'll be a little while before I get a slot in one of my divided tanks for him (long story).

So the options so far are - plec/livebearer/gourami (if I can get one I like).

What kind of loaches/botias don't get too big?

What about a small banjo catfish (we have some about 1 cm long at work ^^), acanthodorus or a talking catfish? Or a bumblebee catfish?

 

[Honeythorn]

DON'T let the betta out, he won't last 2 mins with the Krib. How about a bristlenose plec?

As far as I know mollies do slightly better in Brackish but most store bought mollies will have been bred and adapted to ordinary water so should be ok.

A male swordtail should be able to hold it's own also.

Is the tank well planted to provide hiding places for all the fish?

 

[Assaye]

DON'T let the betta out, he won't last 2 mins with the Krib. How about a bristlenose plec?

As far as I know mollies do slightly better in Brackish but most store bought mollies will have been bred and adapted to ordinary water so should be ok.

A male swordtail should be able to hold it's own also.

Is the tank well planted to provide hiding places for all the fish?

Didn't think letting him out was a good idea. Sick twist of fate has opened up a slot in one of my divided tanks, but at the cost of my crowntail's life. Stupid columnaris and dropsy. Azrael will just have to stay in the trap until I'm sure he's healthy and then he'll go in with my halfmoon.

Might go for a swordtail or sailfin, then, if/when work gets some nice ones.

Not keen on bristlenoses, tbh. Any other small, generally inexpensive plecs? Can't afford £30-£50.

What about cockatoo apistos? Tank too small? Too aggressive?

 

[Assaye]

What about a pair of pelvicachromis taeniatus moliwe?

Too many cichlids? Would there be a problem with interbreeding?

The pelvicachromis species are so pretty. I didn't know there were so many.

 

[OldMan47]

Kribs are kribs Assaye. They won't help with the agression issue, they would make it worse. An adult molly or male swordtail will definitely hold its own in a semi-aggressive tank. Mollies do not need salt, ever. People think that because they can survive in saltwater, that they need it. With hard water, no salt is needed. Mollies that we see do not come from mountain streams that have low mineral content, they come from fresh water that has traveled a long distance toward the sea and has picked up a lot of mineral content along the way. Salt can be used as a substitute for hard water with them, but it is a poor substitute.

 

[Assaye]

Kribs are kribs Assaye. They won't help with the agression issue, they would make it worse. An adult molly or male swordtail will definitely hold its own in a semi-aggressive tank. Mollies do not need salt, ever. People think that because they can survive in saltwater, that they need it. With hard water, no salt is needed. Mollies that we see do not come from mountain streams that have low mineral content, they come from fresh water that has traveled a long distance toward the sea and has picked up a lot of mineral content along the way. Salt can be used as a substitute for hard water with them, but it is a poor substitute.

Would a trio of kribs be a dangerous level of aggression then? I figure as they're all (pretty much) the same animal they'll just rub along together and squabble occassionally, but won't really mind the aggression level too much. Wishful thinking? My female krib died while I was at my parents' house over Christmas (I think bullied - she was tiny compared to the male). OK to replace her? Would I be able to replace her with a different type of krib? Bad idea to risk them interbreeding?

Might try a male sailfin. Don't like livebearers much (except endlers and guppies) but the sailfins are quite pretty.

Any other dwarf cichlids that could work? Apistos? Still too much aggression for a small tank?

Are there any algae eaters suitable for a tank of this size when young and who wouldn't outgrow a 110 lite tank (my upgrade)? I like algae eaters but they all seem to get too big =( *wishes she had a flying fox or sucking loach*

 

[OldMan47]

I would avoid the possibility of a hybrid krib. A kribensis can be quite territorial when breeding, just like most cichlids, so multiple males in anything but a very large tank would be a poor idea. If you bring in a female krib, you are likely to see breeding behavior in that tank which means that bottom dwellers will all be at risk.
The Betta imbellis that I have seen are delightful fish but not fast swimming aggressive ones, I would avoid them in a semi-aggressive tank although I wish I had room to breed some in a species only tank. Unfortunately, I only have so many tanks and right now mine are all spoken for with separate livebearer species colonies.

 

[Wills]

An other cheap small plec is the Rubber nose or Bulldog plec various types just a bit of luck as to which you find. Also if your in the UK check out Aquarist Classified, absolute gem box for cheap plec

For a larger mid water fish have you looked at headstanders? Spotted headstanders could work? If you get them small they take forever to grow, mine went from 1 inch to 2.5 inch in a year, they need to be kept alone or in a group to spread out bullies so either 1 or say 4?

As for more cichlids I would stay away from more in this tank with the krib but in the future upgrade you could consider a few more but as of now your tank does not have the territory to handle more than one, especially since they are a krib.

Wills

 

[fishnovice]

Kribs are kribs Assaye. They won't help with the agression issue, they would make it worse. An adult molly or male swordtail will definitely hold its own in a semi-aggressive tank. Mollies do not need salt, ever. People think that because they can survive in saltwater, that they need it. With hard water, no salt is needed. Mollies that we see do not come from mountain streams that have low mineral content, they come from fresh water that has traveled a long distance toward the sea and has picked up a lot of mineral content along the way. Salt can be used as a substitute for hard water with them, but it is a poor substitute.

Would a trio of kribs be a dangerous level of aggression then? I figure as they're all (pretty much) the same animal they'll just rub along together and squabble occassionally, but won't really mind the aggression level too much. Wishful thinking? My female krib died while I was at my parents' house over Christmas (I think bullied - she was tiny compared to the male). OK to replace her? Would I be able to replace her with a different type of krib? Bad idea to risk them interbreeding?

Might try a male sailfin. Don't like livebearers much (except endlers and guppies) but the sailfins are quite pretty.

Any other dwarf cichlids that could work? Apistos? Still too much aggression for a small tank?

Are there any algae eaters suitable for a tank of this size when young and who wouldn't outgrow a 110 lite tank (my upgrade)? I like algae eaters but they all seem to get too big =( *wishes she had a flying fox or sucking loach*

f you need help chosing an appropriate catfish/plec look up the Catfish Forumsection on this site. The Loricarrid section has a long list of plecs under 8 inches, with accurate descriptions

 

[Assaye]

An other cheap small plec is the Rubber nose or Bulldog plec various types just a bit of luck as to which you find. Also if your in the UK check out Aquarist Classified, absolute gem box for cheap plec

For a larger mid water fish have you looked at headstanders? Spotted headstanders could work? If you get them small they take forever to grow, mine went from 1 inch to 2.5 inch in a year, they need to be kept alone or in a group to spread out bullies so either 1 or say 4?

As for more cichlids I would stay away from more in this tank with the krib but in the future upgrade you could consider a few more but as of now your tank does not have the territory to handle more than one, especially since they are a krib.

Wills

We have some nice headstanders at work. Might look into them. Really nice fish! I think ours are about £15 though

I got two bumblebee catfish. Very petty little things. Should max out at about 3 inches (they're about that now, tbh) unless they are the giant version . . . we'll just have to wait and see! If they get big they'll go to a new home but they look identical to the smaller ones.

Do you think headstanders would stand up (lol) to the krib? He's getting nippy, the cheeky mite.