Kribensis with mbuna

[steve p]

While at my LSF today i seen a chap buying mbuna cichlids. The chap who sold him the fish asked what fish he had already and he replied "i have four kribensis" the LSF man replied "they should be ok" I'm no expert but surely the mbuna will rip the kribs to shreds. Has anyone kept kribs with mbuna?

Steve.

[Rbishop]

I wouldn't mix them, but IME, kribs can be absolute terrors when picked on. They can often hold their own with fish 10 or 20 times their mass.

[tanker]

They can often hold their own with fish 10 or 20 times their mass.

Maybe during breeding, put in general the Mbuna will shred them.

[Coler]

I wouldn't mix them...

I guess the type of mbuna/size of tank would be relevant...could see how labs might be ok...wouldn't think the Kribs would do well in with e.g. in with auratus.

The question arises as to why someone would want to mix fish which prefer different starkly different habitats but that's a personal choice I guess.

[Rbishop]

Could be, but I haven't experienced that action.

[MbunaFishKeeper]

I wouldn't mix them...

I guess the type of mbuna/size of tank would be relevant...could see how labs might be ok...wouldn't think the Kribs would do well in with e.g. in with auratus.

The question arises as to why someone would want to mix fish which prefer different starkly different habitats but that's a personal choice I guess.
maybe he wants to add mbunas to his kribs that he has atm instaed of getting rid of them..

[Coler]

Could be, but I haven't experienced that action.

nope me neither - purely speculation/thinking out loud.

[Jayhawk]

I saw kribs in with yellow labs at a LFS once. I visit this LFS fairly frequently, and they were in there together for over a month and there didn't seem to be problems.

Kribs are a bit like the African version of convicts IMHO...easy to breed, and tough as nails with an aggressive side that is surprising.

Despite the above, I still wouldn't do this myself either.

Eric