Is my male krib a P. pulcher? (pictures)

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xiaosong

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May 12, 2006
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I was wondering if my male krib is the same species as my female krib. Namely, Pelvicachromis pulcher. The female looks like the pictures online but the male doesn't have the really dark line like the female. Also, can you tell from the picture if the male is mature enough to breed? He does flare and shake occasionally at the female and I've seen him try to lead her into a cave but she doesn't usually go inside. I've see her do the bending and shaking thing as well. Could it just be that I have to give them some more time to start breeding? Also, is there any triggers to breeding? Like large changes of water or raising the temp?

Here are the pictures. Thanks.
Krib pictures

Oh tank parameters. 12 gallons with a bunch of plants and 3 caves, 3 espei rasboras who play at the top.

Temp of 80, ph 7, GH 3, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate (2x weekly water change).

I feed them once every night with occasionally treats in the morning and about a week ago I fed them some brine shrimp for a few days.
 
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I dont know too much about kribs, but thinking along the same lines as you... the male dosnt look like part of the species..but could be. someone'll correct me i know :)
 
Yeah, but I looked online and I couldn't really figure out what other kind of Pelvicachromis it could be. It also says online that other species are pretty hard to find and are more expensive so i'm less inclined to think that I have another breed. However, I could be wrong.

On another hand, how picky are kribs when it comes to finding breeding caves?
 
That's a male and a female. The male often is more washed out than the female - kribs are like that (whereas most cichlids have a more colorful male). As for spawning - if they're hanging out together it's a good sign. When they're ready to spawn, the female will arch her side in front of the male.

Eric
 
Yeah, the female does that. But will a female display to a male of the same genus but different species?
 
It may do. But yours are both P. pulcher.
 
Thank you, Cool. Any ideas if the male looks mature enough or not? Also, do you know how picky kribs are when it comes to picking a cave?
 
Personally, I think only the male can tell/show you if he's mature enough...and as long as you have a few caves you should be set. They'll sort things out themselves, but sometimes it's hard to be patient.

Eric
 
Yeah, I guess they've just been flirting for like 2 week. Thanks for all the help guys
 
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