Advice on cichlids and Gouramis?

[jonruthy]

Hi everyone,
We need a little advise from anyone that keeps cichlids or Gouramis, we are thinking about setting up a tank with kribensis cichlids or Dwarf Gouramis, though we have never kept these fish before, our questions are.
1. What size tank should we get?
2. Can you keep these 2 types of fish together?
3. Should we use sand or fine gravel?
4. What other fish can we safely keep with Kribs? “That don’t or will not eat eggs or fry”
Any other advice that you can give us would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.
Jonruthy xx

[Billythefish]

As you are new to cichlids i'd try and keep only one type for now so you can lern first hand what thay are like... And then look at tank mates when you feel you have the knowledge to,

It dont matter what cichlids you keep in a community tank thay will all try to eat the eggs or fry... This is also why i'd only keep one type of cichlid... (If breeding is what you want most), cichlids will defend ther eggs/fry to the death and would be much less stress on them to be on there own. If you want a cichlid community tank i'd look at getting a idea of each fish that you want to have in it and then lern the maximum size thay will grow to then choose a tank to suit

[Fishalicious]

Kribs are fantastic parents and many folks breed them with normal community fish (tetra's etc.) without any problems as they are so good at parenting...If you want to play it extra safe you could stock with Nannostomus fish instead of tetra's as these will not touch any eggs or fry and make good dither fish.

For kribs I would get a minimum 20 Gallon - sand substrate as they love to sift through the sand - and decorate with lot's of plants if keeping other fish with them as well as 1 or 2 caves for them to spawn in.

[jonruthy]

So if we got a 4ft tank do you think that would be enough for them and how many kribs should be kept together with the pencil fish, will they be ok if we just got a pair or can we keep several pair in the same tank?

@ Billythefish We have researched the kribs online and it says that you should always have tank mates as dithers because they can be shy, but you are saying keep them on there own and Fishalicious says get tank mates to be dithers. so what is best tank mates or no tank mates lol we have read that will turn on eachother if you don't have tank mates.

Many thanks.
Jonruthy xx

[Fishalicious]

Kribs do well in both situations - with dithers and without - other dwarfs do better with dithers.

Even in a 4ft tank I would only keep a pair (male/female) to avoid any aggression at all ... you can make a lovely community tank with a 4ft tank.