Second attempt with Kribs

[ScottishFish]

So I had a go at breeding kribs, didn't go well. Basically they didn't pair up and i rehomed them seperately to friends.

As a surprise birthday present my girlfriend bought me some fish, which turned out to be a male and female Kribensis. I was worried that the same would happen as before, but their behaviour this time is much better. After a visit to my lfs today I found out the guy had actually put 10 kribs together and sorted out some pairs, so mines are a mated pair, from their behaviour they do seem very happy together. The male is flushing pink/purple on his underside and the cute wee female has the most violet body ever.

After reading the primer that dave66 wrote it looks like they may be nearing to breed. They are both showing to eachother side on and the female the 'shimmies' this then makes the male blush even deeper purple.

My tank is set up with nice shaded areas and 2 main caves.

In the primer it did say that the male will 'shimmy' back at the female when ready to mate, is there anything I can do to encourage the breeding like food to give them, cooler water changes or will I just have to wait it out? Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated

Female


Male


These photos were a few days ago, their colours have intensified since then.

[Cermet]

Discus like many SA cichilds will breed after a water change and temperature drop (ie after the rainy season hits.) Don't know anything about these but if the colors (or should I say colours?) of the male are getting more intense, then you are close. Good luck!

Also, very pretty fish!

[Brhino]

kribs are one of the prettiest aquarium fish IMO. Nice looking couple you've got there!

[ScottishFish]

I would appreciate colours instead of the lazy way colors hehe Thanks for the nice response guys, and I agree with Brhino they are superb little fish, IMO the female is nicer than the male, and that doesn't occur a lot.

I may leave it a day or two and try the cooler water change, any other suggestions will be accepted with open arms

Note: Apologies for the bad photography skills, also I know the tails of both fish are a little tore up, I guess during all the pairing at the lfs they got beat up a bit. They are slowly healing though, I have noticed improvement since saturday.

[DylanisHawttt]

I agree with the other posters, they are some gorgeous fish. I've never kept Kribs but I would like to try them sometime.

[Cermet]

A very strange feature is that pH changes the male/female ratio in a brood. The source claims that a pH of 6.5 - 6.8 produces equal numbers; lower pH, more females; higher, more males.

They are very similar to discus in wanting soft and acidic water. Their temp range is 74 - 81 F (23.5 - 27 C for our British spellers ...) so dropping to 74 for a short while should be fine.

After seeing yours, I too would like a pair! Can catfish be housed with them since both are bottom dwellers?

[ScottishFish]

They are actually fine with corys and loaches, they seem to dislike my bolivians though :(

[Dave66]

Just FYI everyone, Kribs are from West Africa, not South America. There are several very attractive cousins of kribs swimming in West African waters.

Dave

[Cermet]

Just FYI everyone, Kribs are from West Africa, not South America. There are several very attractive cousins of kribs swimming in West African waters.

Dave

Oops! Din't read that far on them! Thanks.
Still, they do like the same water conditions so they could share a tank, no?

[Dave66]

Since you didn't read that far, the answer to your question follows.
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Though the Niger River delta has many different water parameters down it's length, ending in brackish and marine waters, 'kribs' are most commonly found in the soft and acidic small tributaries of that delta. Though most all available are commercially raised and thus adapted to various pH and hardness levels, to my experience they live and breed best, not to mention are the most colorful, in the soft water, acidic planted tank.
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Dave