View Full Version : Is my male krib a P. pulcher? (pictures)
xiaosong
10-06-2006, 9:01 PM
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 (http://picasaweb.google.com/xiaosong.meng/Kribs)
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.
Ghost_knife
10-06-2006, 9:24 PM
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 :)
xiaosong
10-06-2006, 9:45 PM
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?
Jayhawk
10-07-2006, 12:39 AM
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
xiaosong
10-07-2006, 1:59 AM
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.
xiaosong
10-07-2006, 7:27 AM
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?
Jayhawk
10-07-2006, 10:03 AM
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
xiaosong
10-07-2006, 7:17 PM
Yeah, I guess they've just been flirting for like 2 week. Thanks for all the help guys
Chickieepooh2u
10-07-2006, 9:10 PM
They aren't too picky about caves. I have a couple flower pots in mine that they like.
Mine just had babies!!!! WEEEEE!! Ok, sorry I'm so excited I'm flipping out. LMAO!!!
xiaosong
10-07-2006, 9:21 PM
Haha, congrats!
You know, I have this rock cave with a bunch of java moss of the top of it and it looks like the female dug a tunnel through the java moss on top of the cave and was vibrating and cleaning the rock. Wouldn't it be funny if she made that her cave instead of the other flower pots that I have in mine?
Chichiee, how long did yours flirt for before they got down to business?
Chickieepooh2u
10-07-2006, 9:27 PM
OMG!!! Daddy just sucked one up that was wandering and spit it out back by Mommie!!!
*insert an aww here*
Mine flirted about 2 months or so. I just got these August 31.
xiaosong
10-07-2006, 9:42 PM
That's pretty cute. Yeah, I didn't get mine till mid september and the male didn't stop chasing the female till a few days later so I guess I just have to give them time... I guess this way I can figure out what to do with the babies.
Thanks
Chickieepooh2u
10-07-2006, 10:06 PM
Oh... ack. What to do with the babies... ya.... thanks for the reality check. :thud:
xiaosong
10-07-2006, 10:32 PM
Haha, sorry about that Chickiee.
You know, my female and male and taking turns going into her java moss cave and I can definitely see her oviposter. Keep your fingers cross!
xiaosong
10-07-2006, 11:30 PM
And now I see a bunch of eggs on the rock!
Chickieepooh2u
10-08-2006, 12:05 AM
CONGRATS!!! We need to hand out cigars.... it's a boy....it'a a girl.... it's a girl.....it's a boy... lmao! I missed out on seeing the eggs, but that's ok. Glancing at the tank and seeing a cloud of babies was pretty awesome too!
xiaosong
10-08-2006, 12:22 AM
Oh I bet. I tried taking a picture of the eggs but they are sort of the same color as the rock they are on so it's hard to tell that they are eggs, but there is a bunch of them right now. I hope they don't decide to eat them...
Chickieepooh2u
10-08-2006, 1:02 AM
Ya, I tried to take a pic of the babies too. Turned out all blurry. Either my camera isn't that great or I stink at taking pictures. Probably a bit of both. lol
xiaosong
10-08-2006, 1:40 AM
Yeah, it's hard getting good pictures when they are moving. Just curious, what are you feeding your babies?
Chickieepooh2u
10-08-2006, 10:24 AM
They are getting First Bites from Hikari. I'm going to go hit Petsmart today (if all goes right) and get some brine shrimp to hatch.
xiaosong
10-08-2006, 4:08 PM
ok thanks, if things continue to go well, i might go do the same.
On another note, what do I do about water changes? Should I not change the water until the eggs hatch and then do a big one, or should I wait until I have fry before changing the water?
Jayhawk
10-08-2006, 9:55 PM
Keep changing the water - just don't pour back the water right on top of their egg area. Clean water is really important for fry.
Eric
xiaosong
10-09-2006, 10:41 AM
Thanks Eric,
I'll get to my water change, as soon as they fix the stupid water boiler which means I don't have any hot water at all. They say by tonight, somehow I'm not as confident as they are... at least I changed my water on Wednesday, hopefully they'll be ok till tonight or tomorrow