Kribs question--please be nice!

[Tanichthys]

As I've posted in the general forum, I have my little 10g all set up the way I like it. 6 WCMM, 4 cories. Totally stocked, planted, and happy. I've thought about getting a 15g high to fill out the space on the shelf, and also considered otos for algae, but otherwise that's it.

However...my girlfriend wants to see more color, and she likes the look/attitude of the cichlids at the shop (yellow labs, bumble bees, etc). Obviously they're way too big and too aggressive, and just plain not suited for my tank. But I did some research and I hear kribs are workable in community tanks. Now I know they get too big for a ten, but I have to ask...

IF I were to get a fish I want a cave dweller. I have a great driftwood cave that would be perfect, and I don't want a large show fish chasing the small school. She and I both aren't gourami fans, plus I like the water moving faster than they do. Since kribs come from streams rather than the big lakes they probably do too and would probably be used to cooler temps (say 76?) which would be the top end of the clouds natural temps. So, all of that said, could I add a single female (smaller than males) to the tank? Would getting a 15g high make a difference?

I know the answer is probably no, but I had to ask...:14:

[Taurus]

I've got a single female in my 20g long and she does well. I think a 15 high would be pretty tight even for a female krib as they still need space on the bottom of the tank. They stay near the bottom of a tank 90% of the time.

This is just my opinion, but I wouldn't do it. Others may disagree.

[Tanichthys]

That's what I expected. So from your experience she does do a good deal of cruising the bottom, not just hanging in the caves, right?

Did her colors totally fade with no male around?

Thanks!

[Taurus]

That's what I expected. So from your experience she does do a good deal of cruising the bottom, not just hanging in the caves, right?

Did her colors totally fade with no male around?

Thanks!

She does a good deal of cruising the bottom.

Her colors did not fade without the male around. The females still bare eggs and need to lay them or they will get egg bound and die. I noticed a couple of months ago that she was almost glowing with color. When I got home from work one night, she had dug a borrow by moving one piece of gravel at a time from underneath an over hang on a piece of bogwood. She had layed eggs in the bottom of the borrow, and was rotating 180 degrees to cover the ceiling of the over hang with eggs. It took her roughly 24 hours to finish laying all the eggs and then she didn't leave the borrow for a couple of days. She kept turning upside down to fan the eggs on the ceiling with fins. Eventually, she moved out of the burrow and some of the eggs got eaten and she lost interest in the rest.

Right now, her colors are a bit dull around her belly, dull purple, but her fins are still brightly colored. I'm waiting to see if she lays another batch of eggs and if she does, her belly will be a glowing reddish, purplish color.

[annageckos]

You need floor space for them, so a 10 or 15 high would be out. A 20 long would be minimum. But I wouldn't try a regular 20. I have a krib in my 30. No idea is it is male or female yet as it is only about an 1 1/4 inches righ now. One reason for needing more bottom/floor space is they are cichlids and even though they are more peaceful they can still be aggressive if cramped. IMO a 10 is too small for cichlids, same goes for a 15 tall. Remember a longer tank is better for most fish. Gives them more swimming space.

[Tanichthys]

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately I don't have any more length room. More depth and height aren't a problem...
Oh well. Definitely cool fish, but so are the clouds, and they seem perfectly happy!

[Taurus]

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately I don't have any more length room. More depth and height aren't a problem...
Oh well. Definitely cool fish, but so are the clouds, and they seem perfectly happy!

WCMM and the long finned, color varieties are very cool fish. Meteor minnows (long finned variety of WCMM) are rediculilous expensive though and I have found the gold color variety as hardy as good ole WCMM. They're easy to take care of, don't require a big tank, and it's so much fun watching the males display for each other and the females. WCMM are a very under appreciated fish for your aquairum.