Breeding Kribensis

[Assaye]

Curious about one of my females. She's in with a small, albino male and they've been swimming together and (I think) courting. However, every so often she'll swim toards/past him and "shimmy" or shake in the water. I know this can be a sign of parasites or an internal infection so I just want reassurance that this is normal courtship behavior for her . . . I've actually seen my large male doing this with his girl as well (different pair) and I'm pretty sure he has a clean bill of health. They all look great - bright colours, round bellies (but not at all bloated) and they're all showing off their pink bellies.

They have been relegated to a 30 litre tank (I know, I know) because she was tearing the dorsal fins off my corys. I wasn't having her bully my little ones so it was take her and her (potential) mate back to the shop or try them in the smaller tank. At the moment they are both small enough to be OK but I know how big the males get (I've got a 4 incher in one of my other tanks) so they won't be in there forever. Hopefully when the other kribs and their tank mates move to my 3 foot tank in a couple of months, these kribs can move into the vacated tank (65 litres). I can move the divider in the tank they're in atm and give them about 40 litres but there is a male betta in the other side and I won't give him less than 20 litres.

I've got 3 females - one albino with my 4 inch male, this one with my 3 inch albino male and one in a community tank. A friend of mine wants to offload another female krib onto me - would she be OK in with another female in my community tank? Would there be a lot of aggression if there are no males around to compete for?

I went from one krib (my 4 inch male) to five kribs in about a week, lol! Ooops.

 

[kribensis12]

You will want 1m/1f per tank. The shimmying is a breeding sign. This belongs in the African/Old World Section.

 

[Assaye]

You will want 1m/1f per tank. The shimmying is a breeding sign. This belongs in the African/Old World Section.

Ah,OK.

Would two un-paired females not work then? I wouldn't try multiple females with males, as I've already found that pretty disasterous as the passive female was tortured by the more aggressive one that was trying to attract the male. They were moved within a day of the bullying starting.

 

[kribensis12]

Two unpaired females MAY work, but they usually start bullying each other.

 

[Assaye]

I have some good news! My albino female is digging her nest under a hollow crocodile skull ornament. Her mate is being very potective and chasing my swordtails and apisto when they get too close. Definitely looking forward to getting that 3 foot tank set up when we move - would be nice to have a dedicated krib breeding tank. Hopefully these albinos will produce some nice offspring!

Do you think it was a good idea to split my albinos up? I have a male and female from the same place (so I assume related) and I've paired them with standard kribs rather than keeping them togther. My theory was it would improve genetic diversity and still give a chance of albino babies.

 

[kribensis12]

Congrats dude! The splitting up the albino's wont harm them. Kribs don't usually have problems being inbred, but hey, now you know for sure that they wont!

 

[Assaye]

We have eggs!

 

[kribensis12]

PICTURES?

 

[Assaye]

PICTURES?

I'll see if I can snap a few when the lights come on. She's stacked loads of gravel up in front of the glass so it might be hard to see in.

Getting worried about the other fish eating the babies. I imagine kribs are quite defensive? At what age will the babies be mature enough to move to a new tank? I don't want to risk shocking them but they would do better in some kind of grow-out tank, I imagine?

 

[kribensis12]

The kribs are very defensive. Once the female shows signs of breeding again, pull the last batch of babies out.

 

[Assaye]

Sounds like a plan.

Tried to get some photos but she's stacked the gravel up too high, lol.

 

[Assaye]

She's moved the nest and it seems there are less eggs than before. Do you know why she might have done this?

The eggs are vibrating and seem to be shifting about. No babies yet but I assume this means they are hatching?

 

[kribensis12]

They are what you call "wrigglers". Basically, an egg with a tail. They can't swim for another 3-4 days, as their yolk sack weighs to much. But, one they have depleted it enough, they will start swimming. Expect the mom to move the babies several times in the next 3 days. Also, she will pick them up with her mouth (even once they can swim), she is not eating them. I promise.

 

[Assaye]

That's good! She's moved them *again* and there seem to be even less than there were. I hope the other fish are not getting a midnight snack!

I'm really glad I put 6 new pots in the tank when she started showing signs of being broody.

 

[kribensis12]

Just wait on them! If they are disappearing, she may be eating them. It's not uncommon for the first batch, but that doesn't mean that's what happening.