Cichlid newbie. Kribensis Questions.

[Waylander]

I'm fairly new to fish keeping on the whole and have no experience with cichlids. In the course of investigating stocking options for my new 40 gallon, I found that my LFS stocks kribs. I've learned that my water would not be ideal for most cichlids as it is slightly acidic and soft, but apparently kribs don't desire hard, high pH water? I'd like to have a pair of centre piece fish, (maybe a breeding pair?) so I just thought I'd ask a few questions about this particular species.

What are peoples general feelings about this fish (experience/temperament/activity/personality)?
Is it suitable for a community tank with smaller fish (i.e. tetras, specifically neons)?
Will it fare alright in more acidic water (mid to low sixes)?
Are they plant friendly?
Anything else you care to add...

Many thanks in advance for any advice! :)

[Squawkbert]

if/when kribs are spawning and protecting fry, they get highly territorial and will chase everything else away (sometimes, even dad). Otherwise, they're fairly peaceful... at least they're OK w/ some of the more aggressive tetras, paradise fish... They may not spawn if they don't like the water and in any event, they will want some caves & other structure in which to nest & hide fry (concentrate cover at either end of tank so they'll pick one end and not constantly chase other stuff all over the tank - so much for being "centerpiece fish").

[Chickieepooh2u]

I have 2 breeding pairs and I love them!! Mine are plant friendly, but will pick at them here and there. If you have a breeding pair, the PH can play a big part of what sex the fry turn out. I use flower pots for caves and serpae tetras for dither fish in one tank. The other tank only has Kribensis and Mystery snails. They like pond snails as a snack. lol I feed mine on flakes, tiny pellets, freeze dried blood worms, and live brine shrimp. They are excellent parents and will raise their fry for a couple months or until they are ready to breed again. I've averaged about 35 surviving fry per spawn. I have a LFS that buys them from me.

The parents can turn on each other and kidnap the kids for themselves. You just need to be prepared with another tank in case that happens.

I had a single Krib in with my guppies and it did fine. It stayed at the bottom and the gups at the top. The Serpae tetras are also fine. They are a fast fish and can get away from a mad mom or dad. :) Mine will get 'moody' once in awhile. (Usually after the fry are weaned). They'll hide a couple weeks pouting. They eventually get over it though.

[guppygirl123]

Also in soft, acidic water rams could do quite well too.

[lucky777ca]

I currently have a 10G as a breeding tank, a 20G high for a grow out tank for the smaller (newer frys) and a 50G tote for a grow out tank for the larger frys until they are ready to be traded in for store credit.

What are peoples general feelings about this fish (experience/temperament/activity/personality)?

I really like their personality. They are fun to watch as they are protecting their frys, mostly when I remove the cover that prevents them to see the smaller frys in the 20G high grow out tank. As an individual (in my community tank), the lone female hides when I come near the tank, but always fun to see her when she does decide stay out of the cave. She currently shares her territory with a yoyo loach (kribensis inside the cave, while the yoyo loach is guarding the entrance :D) They would hide, if there weren't any other fishes in with them.

Is it suitable for a community tank with smaller fish (i.e. tetras, specifically neons)?

A breeding pair might be too aggressive for tetras, some of the larger faster tetras might work (like the Black Skirt Tetras and the Serpae Tetras). I've had Black Skirts and Serpae in with the breeding pair, but they started to rip the fins of the two species of fishes, so I had to take them back... for Tiger barbs. For the first spawn, they didn't attack the barbs that much, but for the second one, the female chased them around and around (the male just for a bit, but they were able to get away). A lone cichlid would do great. The first kribensis in the community tank (which is now the male of the breeding pair) was only aggresive towards the livebearers (strangely), while the female that's in the community tank right now is only aggressive towards the siamese algae eater (due to the colouring, must be), the yoyo loach (for trying to enter the cave) and in rare occasions, the otocinclus catfishes.

Will it fare alright in more acidic water (mid to low sixes)?

They would prefer to have a slightly acidic environment, but I've had them in alkaline envirnment and they have already spawned twice and I'm still waiting for another spawn (the female is hiding again, after I removed the second set of frys, she was just stuck in the cave, as she dug out the inside and placed the gravel at the entrance). The water parameters are at a pH of 7.4, GH of 150 ppm, kH of 80 ppm, temp at 80F and cycled with a nitrate level of 20 ppm. They are currently in with Apple Snails (I think, Golden Mystery Snails).

Are they plant friendly?

My breeding pair eats the roots of the vallisneria in with them, while the lone female doesn't eat any plants. It might depend on the individual fish, though. The frys, on the other hand, eat the Elodeas that I currently have with them.

Of course, this is just my experience with them. They are really fun to watch when kept as individuals or as a breeding pair.

[michaelc]

I have only been keeping fish for about 4 months - but have a similar set up to you. I have kribs and they are fantastic cichlids to keep. I live in Scotland where the water is very soft, and they seemed fine. they bred and had some fry recently- I rescued 10 from the community tank, which are now growing up in another tank, quite happily. My kribs were VERY aggressive whilst breeding and bringing up the babies tho' - I was concerned about my other fish... keep that in mind. After the kribs had their fry, my male krib died (:-() - I bought a new male, but the female is very aggressive to him and chases him every time he is noticed by her - It's so bad I may have to take him back to my LFS. It may be because he is a little smaller than the last male (same size as her) - I don't know... They are fantastic fish to keep tho'.
I recommend them.

[jessicar613]

I don't have a lot of experience with fish but here's my opinion based on my pair of kribs fwiw - I really enjoy them, they are neat fish. They are the most aggressive fish I own (which isn't saying much, because most of my others are very peaceful). They are brave little fish. They even attack the gravel vac when I get close to their cave. It's fun to watch their colors change when I feed them or they get angry (like with the gravel vac). But I don't know if I'd recommend them as a centerpiece for a 40 gallon. Personally I think they'd get lost in there; mine spend a lot of time in their cave, or cruising the lower levels of their tank. When I got them they found the cave literally within seconds of leaving the baggie - I didn't see them for two weeks. Now they venture out a lot more.

My favorite fish in my tanks are keyhole cichlids; they are small, peaceful fish, not as colorful as kribs but they fluctuate between a shiny champagne color with black "keyholes" and a mottled brownish black when they are trying to blend with the background. They look beautiful when they're "courting"; they dance around each other and the contrast in their neutral colors gets very intense. They also spend more time in the middle of the tank then the kribs (although they still graze the bottom quite a bit).