Kribs and Barbs?

D

D Bass

AC Members
Jul 27, 2006
19
0
0
Toronto Ontario
I asked this question in the newbie forum already but I only got 1 response and it wasnt the one I was looking for so I thought I'd ask the experts ( ;) ) over here since y'all are more likely to have more experience with kribs specifically.

So anyhow, I just want to know if I were to get 1 male and 1 female Krib if they would be compatible with my 6 Black Ruby Barbs in a 50g?
 
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85172

You have 2 oppinions. Both conflicting. I have no experience with either fish, so can't say one way or the other. If there is an answer you want to hear, and you will ignore the ones you dont want to hear, why ask? Seems like you are going to do it weather someone tells you its ok or not. For your information H3D gives great advice. If I had to make an educated guess, if your kribs paired up and started to breed, your barbs would be dead in no time.
 
If it's a big tank, with plants or rocks to serve as sight blocks and hiding places, they should be relatively OK.

If the kribs start to breed, the female will want to clear out a large predator-free area and will chase the barbs. If it's a small tank, they won't have anywhere to go and will get beaten and possibly killed. The same thing might happen to the male krib, though. With lots of cover they will have a chance.

If you have a spawning cave ( coconut shell, flower pot ), put it to the side and point the entrance away from the center of the tank so she won't be looking out at barbs all day.

When breeding some cichlids, people sometimes use "dither" or "target" fish- like your barbs- in the tank. This stimulates parental care and the parents are less likely to fight if there's someone else to worry about. You're taking a risk with them, but not as great a risk as keeping neons with angels.
 
Thank you for the vote of confidence sumthin! In my opinion you should not add fish to an aquarium that pose a threat to the fish that already inhabit it. It is possible that they might get along peacefully, but to me it is a risk. If you are looking to get some peaceful medium sized fish with personality why not try a gourami?
 
T In my opinion you should not add fish to an aquarium that pose a threat to the fish that already inhabit it. It is possible that they might get along peacefully, but to me it is a risk. If you are looking to get some peaceful medium sized fish with personality why not try a gourami?
Click to expand...
It was nothing personal, I just wanted more than one opinion, in the matter thats all.... I dont think you can blame me for that, especially on the internet.

As for the Gourami, I initially took a look at them however after some research I was led to believe that they wouldnt make good tankmates. You are obviously suggesting otherwise right? Would one type of Gourami be better than the other?
 
Folks - it's a 50 gallon tank. My pair of kribs (spawned several times) leave my platy's and the blue finned killi totally alone. All the fish have been together for several spawns...and it's a 36" long 33 gallon tank.

Anyone in this thread keep breeding kribs other than me?

Barbs make good dithers for small cichlids like kribs. I've kept all my dwarf cichlids with dithers (kribs, N. anomola, L. curviceps, and bolivian rams - I won't get started on the Tanganyikans which are a different situation altogether). Dwarf cichlids usually need smaller schooling types of fish in the tank with them to feel secure and you'll see they're much more active with such fish in the tank. I've been doing this for 30 years, so I have a bit of experience breeding dwarf cichlids.

The only problem is when the tank is too small...which has already been mentioned. Or, if the chosen dithers are small enough to be eaten by the cichlid.

Eric
 
You are right to be cautious about adding a gourami with barbs. If you think your barbs will nip at them then you should definitely not add them. However Ruby barbs are usually not as aggressive as other barbs and will usually not be a threat to gouramis.
 
Last edited:
Jayhawk said:
Anyone in this thread keep breeding kribs other than me
Click to expand...

Yes, including several wild krib relatives, years ago.

When you're dealing with smarter fish like cichlids you run into different personality variations. One female will be fine, another will be a real terror. That's why I said they should be "relatively OK", especially with plenty of sight blocks. You're taking *some* risk with any set-up. Heck- a tank car of agricultural ammonia could overturn miles away and kill off everything.

I would put a krib pair with them before I'd put a gourami in the tank, even though ruby's aren't as bad as tiger barbs. Keyholes or shell dwellers might be more peaceful.
 
Notice how we two who are keeping kribs are saying this should be OK? As you said, there is risk with any set up. Keyholes may be more peaceful, but I've had friends with breeding pairs that were just as assertive as kribs.

I'd shy away from shellies - except for brevis, I've not found a more aggressive cichlid inch for inch. Plus, they're really happier with a pH of 8+ and very hard water. I had a group of multis who attacked a rubberlip pleco hard enough you could hear the sound of each hit several feet away from the tank (he was one happy pleco when I moved him to another tank).

Eric
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom