Kribensis Cichlid AGGRESSIVE out of NOWHERE *Please help me*

[Mrgoby]

Hello everyone,

I have had a pair of Kribs for some time now, an albino (female) and a regular (male). The females belly has gotten red many times before signaling that she is ready to breed but not the male. Literally on the first day back from spring breach I see my tank and his belly is red. And with this red belly has come aggression. I have 4 White Cloud Mountain minnows 2 kuhli loaches, 1 black kuhli loach, and a baby longfin super red bristlenose pleco in the tank.(all of these fish keep their distance from the cichlids) One important detail is that the male is a much bigger size than the female. My female is about 1.5-2 inches and the male is about 3. They all live in a 20 gal and have had no problems until today. Normally my male wouldn’t pick at the loaches in their big house but today he woke up and chose violence. I’m thinking about getting a separate 10 gallon tank for the cichlids but please guys let me know what you think and QUICK!!!

 

[Lajos_Detari]

Adult Kribensis can be aggressive.

In the past, I had one that chased all other fish even my Blue rams were picked on.
In the end, I had to remove it and place it in another tank.
Get another tank as soon as possible.

 

[Lynnzer]

Kribs are damn nice fish but they do get aggresive when they have eggs/young as they are very protective. This will be for the whole time that the fry are schooling and roaming the tank. If you have a well planted tank the other fish should be able to keep out of the way otherwise I'd move the kribs to another tank which will, in any case, give you the opportunity to catch all the fry for selling on, without a lot of commotion that you'd get in a community tanks.

 

[itiwhetu]

Your tank is just not big enough for these guys, they are active fish that like space a three-inch male krib can easily occupy 40 gallons. The tension won't go away in this tank.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

I have a pair in my 63 gallon and honestly they occupy over half the bottom space when theyre breeding. I have them with rainbows and cherry barbs who thankfully can keep out their way. I'd say your tank is too small and you're likely to lose fish if you don't separate them from the rest