Tank size for a pair of Kribs?

[kev_kb]

I've just seen a pair of Kribs at my LFS and I would really like some. I may have a spare 13 gal (US) tank soon so would this be suitable? It's 24" long, I can't remember the other measurements, around 10" I think.

I think this maybe pushing it a bit, but could I, no, should I do it?

 

[Ben]

no dont risk it, in some cases it can be done but they are likely to breed alot so the best is a 20 gal or higher

 

[kev_kb]

Ok, I thought that was maybe the case...

Just out of interest, are you saying the breeding will cause the tank to become over stocked, or will it cause other problems? I'm not currently planning on keeping any offspring I would sell/donate them to my LFS, so could it still be done maybe?

Sorry if it sounds like I'm clutching at straws here but I really like these fish, but saying that I want them to be happy with thier tank, so if I really cant I won't..

 

[Mamaschild]

I can give you info on what I did, but I'm not going to tell you weather or not to use this tank.....that's going to be your decision

I had a breeding pair of Kribs in a 20g for months....only 24" long....no problems. The footprint is the main factor here, since they are bottom dwellers for the most part. I kept them with 10 Neons to begin with, then the Neons started getting killed as the Kribs became better parents. Ended up having 5 Neons survive.

I raised 3 batches of fry with these guys, not removing them until they were over 2 months old. The parents never spawned while there were fry in the tank. Once the fry were removed, they would spawn again. No worries of overstocking there, unless they give you 200 fry at once Just be aware, fry are messy, and you would DEFINATELY have to keep good water conditions for this to work.....like 2 or 3 changes a week.

HTH some at least

 

[Ben]

I'm not currently planning on keeping any offspring I would sell/donate them to my LFS, so could it still be done maybe?

only could be done in 20 or higher
as Mamaschild said wait a couple of months and then sell them to your lfs because if you sell them straight away
1)you wont get a good price
2)theyll most likely to become feeders

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I bred my albinos in a 20gallon and even then the male almost killed the female until I had to remove her. Even in a 4ft (41US) tank when my non albino pair bred the female killed the male (this was with very few other fish in the tank, see profile).

They need as big a tank as possible IME, a 13US just is not big enough I am afraid.

 

[kev_kb]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'm still undecided really but I think I may buy them and put them in the 13 then get a larger tank in a couple of months.

 

[Ben]

dont
because in a couple of months you'll only have one male krib

dont risk it

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Don't buy fish until you can house them, one of the fundamental rules in fish keeping. There's no need to rush and would you really want to risk it? My pair spawned and had fry within 2 weeks of being in their tank.

You'd be stupid to do it, seriosuly.

 

[kev_kb]

Thanks for the advice guys, I know your right really, not sure what I was thinking before. I've made up my mind I won't buy them till I have a larger tank, so now I need to re think stocking the 13 but I'll save that for another thread...

 

[guppymonkey]

I keep my krib pair in a 20 long and I think anything smaller would probably be a mistake. When breeding any cichlid its a good idea for them to have dither fish to take their attention. That way they won't take their aggression out on each other. In a 13 gallon there wouldn't be anywhere for the dither fish to run away to, that would stress out the kribs and probably lead to them eating their young.