Kribensis Fry

[Finding_Nemo]

Pic of the Female Kribensis with her fry, just hatched.
As said, it is not a very clear one, but you can just make then out if you look underneath her.

She had 50 or 60 I think, but it doesn't look that many in that pic.

Regards,

Pete

 

[Tizer]

Nothing like providing a natural habitat of blinding colours lol

I dont understand how you are going to cycle a tank in a week?

 

[Finding_Nemo]

Nothing like providing a natural habitat of blinding colours lol

LOL, I know.
I haven't really picked the gravel colours tbh.
The Roma 125 that the Kribs are in at mo was gonna be my partners eldest daughters tank, & she chose the gravel etc, but she moved out & we ended up keeping it.

My partner picked the new tank's gravel, bless her

I dont understand how you are going to cycle a tank in a week?

Well, I read the Fishless Cycle article on here, & it said about using pure ammonia etc, but this can take upto a month or so.
I spoke to someone at Japanese Koi Company, & he said that is very old fashioned way of doing it & said after a week, slowly start adding fish.
So I though, maybe I can do this, then in a couple of weeks time, maybe swap the fish back & put the fry in there.

Can you or anyone else recommend a good method please?
Doesn't have to be a week.

Many thanks mate,

Pete

 

[kribensis12]

Here is how to immeadiatley cycle your tank. Take some of the current filter media that's being used, and throw it into your new tank. Then pop the fish in. The media has all of the beneficial bacteria you need in it. The same works for gravel. It's called cloning. I do it for all of my tanks. Be warned, krib fry grow very slowly. I had some firemouth cichlid fry and they were born the same week as my krib fry. The firemouths were topping over 2 inches while the kribs were hitting 1 inch.

 

[Finding_Nemo]

Here is how to immeadiatley cycle your tank. Take some of the current filter media that's being used, and throw it into your new tank. Then pop the fish in. The media has all of the beneficial bacteria you need in it. The same works for gravel. It's called cloning. I do it for all of my tanks. Be warned, krib fry grow very slowly. I had some firemouth cichlid fry and they were born the same week as my krib fry. The firemouths were topping over 2 inches while the kribs were hitting 1 inch.

Many thanks for your reply mate.

I'll give that a go.
I'll clean the existing media into new tank, then the filter will suck that up & cycle the new filter media.

I'll then give it a day to settle, then do a water test, & if all ok I'll put the fry in.

I'm not too worried about the growth rate, as they will be in their own tank.
And I think I have about 3-4 weeks until the Female might start wanting to mate with the Male again.

Many Thanks again for your reply.

Regards,

Pete

 

[Finding_Nemo]

Ok, had our water tested today, as I did not have any ammonia tester & nitrite tester.

Water is spot on & have been given the go-ahead to add fish.

The tank is all ready & the fry are in a bag floating in the new tank as I type.

The mother is now swimming in the breeding tank they were in & her belly has gone red again, so she seems happy as she can tell her babies have been here.

I have Swordtails, Rainbow Fish, Neon Tetra's, Mollies, Guppies, Corydora's, Clown Loaches, Rummy Noses, Bleeding Hearts, long orange sucking loaches & maybe a couple of others that I cannot remember the name of.

My question is, do I add the parents back in communication with them in the new tank, & if I do, what other fish should I put in there to keep the parents busy & make them learn better about looking after their young?

Or, do I just leave the Fry in there on their own?

Many thanks,

Pete

 

[minnnt]

Fry on their own...

Good luck!! Make sure you have plenty of crushed flake and frozen bbs once added.

 

[Finding_Nemo]

Fry on their own...

Good luck!! Make sure you have plenty of crushed flake and frozen bbs once added.

Cheers Dave.

I don't have any frozen Brine Shrimp at mo, I nearly bought some today, but was advised that they won't eat it yet.
I'll just crush some flake food up & give them that for a week, then get some frozen brine shrimp & see how they get on.

More pics to follow soon with them in the new tank.

Thanks mate,

Pete

 

[minnnt]

If you get the really fine baby brine shrimp they will lap it up!!It comes in cubes, so you could probably attempty to break some off each cube and feed it to the fry through out the day. You could easily get 3 portions out of it for different times of the day, try and break it into 3 pieces with a knife and feed morning noon and night. This should ensure pretty even feeding times and hopefully ensure that you won't be feeding too much so the left over food pollutes your water.

The bbs i use is by 'Salt Lake City Brand' and it is like dust particles when you put it in the tank.

 

[Finding_Nemo]

If you get the really fine baby brine shrimp they will lap it up!!It comes in cubes, so you could probably attempty to break some off each cube and feed it to the fry through out the day. You could easily get 3 portions out of it for different times of the day, try and break it into 3 pieces with a knife and feed morning noon and night. This should ensure pretty even feeding times and hopefully ensure that you won't be feeding too much so the left over food pollutes your water.

The bbs i use is by 'Salt Lake City Brand' and it is like dust particles when you put it in the tank.

Thanks mate.

Good idea about the cube, breaking it in three bits.
We did look at freeze dried brine shrimp too, but wasn't sure about that.

I'll go & have a look tomorrow for the frozen baby brine shrimp.

The Fry are in the tank now.

It swamps them, bless em.

I'll get some pics up later.

We are thinking of moving all the fish from the Aquael Pearl 40, mainly Guppies, into the Roma 125, remove all water from Pearl 40, & start afresh with that tank & put fine gravel in & put the Kribensis parents in there with a couple of other fish.

I'll wash the filter media in the new water, so it clones/cycles the tank quickly, then do water tests to make sure all is ok.

Any suggestions on fish from my stock list to add with Krib Parents?


Thanks peeps,

Pete

 

[minnnt]

How about using the smaller tank for fry? That frees your two bigger tanks for the bigger fish? Kribs could do with at least your 125, the 40 and 90 are too small for them.

 

[Finding_Nemo]

How about using the smaller tank for fry? That frees your two bigger tanks for the bigger fish? Kribs could do with at least your 125, the 40 and 90 are too small for them.

Well, i've considered this.
Problem is the filter in smaller 40L tank.
It would suck them in.
So, what I'm thinking is this..........

Change filter in smaller tank to external one, or one that is easily plugged.
Add some gravel & decor etc.

Move Krib fry into the smaller tank.

Move the Krib Parents into the 90L tank.
But, with a few other fish (not sure which ones to put in yet).

Leave the bigger fish, such as Rainbow Fish, Pleco's etc in Roma 125.

The Female Krib is now red bellied again & fluttering around the Male quite a bit, so, even though it has only been about 2 weeks since she hatched her eggs, could it be she is ready to mate again with the Male?

Also, does anyone know how to tell difference between Male & Female Kribs.
Might be too early to tell with the Fry yet, but some have red bellies, like the Female parent, & some don't.

Many thanks,

Pete

 

[minnnt]

Not sure about the fry sexing, but your theory definately sounds possible!

As for the filter, obviously a new spangly external filter would be brilliant. You could net the existing filter with a pair of your missus's tights... or yours if you have some

If it was a growing on tank then looks wouldn't really be an issue as the tights could be removed after a month or two depending on growth. I would suggest you purchase some tall dense plants to plant in the tank to help the fry feel secure. Also lots of hidey holes, rock work and caves for them to hide amongst. As mentioned, Kribensis fry are extremely slow growing compared to other Cichlids so be patient and don't alter anything once they're settled in thinking you are doing something incorrect as they aren't growing as fast as you think they should!

Post some pictures of your tanks, i am intrigued by your setups

 

[Finding_Nemo]

You could net the existing filter with a pair of your missus's tights... or yours if you have some

LOL, this made the missus laugh .
But, I'm afraid I do NOT own any tights, so the missus ones will have to do, if I decide to net the existing filter.

If it was a growing on tank then looks wouldn't really be an issue as the tights could be removed after a month or two depending on growth. I would suggest you purchase some tall dense plants to plant in the tank to help the fry feel secure. Also lots of hidey holes, rock work and caves for them to hide amongst. As mentioned, Kribensis fry are extremely slow growing compared to other Cichlids so be patient and don't alter anything once they're settled in thinking you are doing something incorrect as they aren't growing as fast as you think they should!

Post some pictures of your tanks, i am intrigued by your setups

Well Dave, I have purchased another new tank, an AquaOne AR-380, with an overhead filter in the hood, like the AR-620.
I decided to do this, as the Aquael Pearl 40 filter is ok, but the light has gone in it too, actually blew up (smashed), & the shop we bought the tank from is having a hard time getting a replacement light for it.
Plus, the new Ar-380 has the same style filter, a single tube, so it is easily spongeable like I have done with the Ar-620.
We were so impressed with the AR-620, we thought we'd stay with that make & get a smaller one, without the cabinet this time as it is small enough to sit on a side table where the Aquael Pearl 40 currently sits.
We are going to put the Pearl 40 in our daughters bedroom, so she can have a fish tank of her own, with her own selection of fish in it.
The lid is green & blue, & she is into Scooby Doo, so this should fit quite well.

We have bought 3 live plants today too, which the Fry will hopefully like.

We bought some more COLOURFUL gravel for the new tank.
We will get some gravel for the Pearl 40, when all has settled with the new tanks.

I'm gonna set the new tank up in a bit & wash the filter from the Pearl 40, into the new tank to help clone/cycle the tank quickly.
Then move the fry in to the new tank in a couple of days when things have settled & water tests done.

I'll get some pics up when I can.

Many thanks,

Pete

 

[minnnt]

Blimey Pete, YOU'VE GOT IT BAD!!!

4 tanks...

You're a bogger with the colourful gravel!