Kribs w/ rasbora & danios?

[lelover]

I would like to get a pair of Kribs. Their breeding habits sound very interesting to observe. I understand they need a few dither fish, but I don't want anyone to get hurt. What do you guys think about adding 2 Kribs to a 20G tank with four zebra danios and 4-5 Harlequin Rasboras? I'm debating between getting kribs or 2-3 yoyo loaches.

 

[Ferris]

Kribs are one on the few cichlids that can be added to community tanks but you have to be aware that they are agressive fish, especially if you get a male and a female.

In my experience, it is probably better to keep 1 male in a com tank. That said, i have known it to work with a male and female but you have to be very careful about the fish you keep with them. anything smaleer than a platie will almost certainly disappear.

Hope this helps

 

[lelover]

Well, I'm not getting much response on this one. I've continued to do my homework though and it doesn't sound like it would work without a few casualties unless I get very lucky. I want to own some, but my wife wants us to stick to one tank. I'm trying to convince her that we need at least one more in order to "save the babies" of our danios and rasboras. I think it will hit her soft sport, but three tanks is probably out of the question. Mayble someday I'll run into a lot of money and be able to get a 75G tank....

Any further thoughts/recommedations?

 

[rollntider]

Well, I'm not getting much response on this one. I've continued to do my homework though and it doesn't sound like it would work without a few casualties unless I get very lucky. I want to own some, but my wife wants us to stick to one tank. I'm trying to convince her that we need at least one more in order to "save the babies" of our danios and rasboras. I think it will hit her soft sport, but three tanks is probably out of the question. Mayble someday I'll run into a lot of money and be able to get a 75G tank....

Any further thoughts/recommedations?

maybe try some rams I have heard of people keeping breeding rams in a community tanks. But I am not an expert on them though. Also look into the cockatoo cichlid , it is a miniature one that I have seen on this forum and looks interesting. Check into those. I am not an expert on any of those BTW, just something to maybe check into.

 

[Alia]

I think your tank might be a little small for a breeding pair of cichlids plus other fish that you like, but I do agree that rams might be a better option than kribs if you have the right water conditions. I believe they require softer water, maybe a different pH? Rams have the reputation for being shy, but still assertive when breeding. I've never had them, but my water is probably too hard and alkaline. My kribs haven't actually killed any tankmates, yet, but I'm not ruling it out. I keep a close eye on their tank.

They are tremendous parents, though.

 

[Supersalmon]

I have a pair or Kribs in a community tank with a batch of six week old babies at the moment, the tank includes zebra danios and harlequins. The Kribs will chase other fish but they have never killed any of them, however I do have a large tank (400l) and I think the smaller the tank the less hiding areas for other fish. Danios are top dwelling fish and I must say I have never even seen them being chased by my Kribs ever because they are top dwellers and Kribs tend to atsy at the bottom. I would avoid cories and other catfish, also they seem to dislike sharks, flying foxes etc. maybe the Kribs see them as a big threat to their babies.

 

[lelover]

400 litres is nearly 90G right? That would probably make a big difference. I don't think I'll risk putting the kribs in their. Maybe when I get a big tank someday.

I don't know much about rams. From the little research I've done there are Blue Rams and Bolivian Rams, both of which are pretty passive. Are their breeding habits/skills/tendencies similar to kribs? Anyone have experience with them? What is a good resource for learning about them?

 

[Alia]

Rams

This is an Url to get you started.

Rams are not very much like kribs at all. They look more like the apistogramma and like them, they are a South American fish. Kribs come from African rivers. I think the reason people put them together, both literally and figuratively, is that they both can be kept in communities under the right conditions, and many cichlids can't.

Their water needs are completely different, however, which is why I don't have them. They never last long in fish stores around here. I've read that the majority of the rams in the trade, like many other fish (bettas and neons come to mind, as well as dwarf gourami), are raised in the far east/asia and have much weakened immune systems from the antibiotics in the water.

If I could get some that were wild caught, or bred from wild caught here in the states, I would be tempted to set up a tank for them and buy special water, they are so beautiful. But don't get them unless you are really committed to taking proper care of them. I'm sure most of the ones sold around here end up dying.

 

[jaukema]

presently I have a 35 g community tank containing 12 tiger barbs, 3 zebra danios, 6 clown loaches, and 4 rams. Surprisingly enough, the rams are being pushed around by the larger than them barbs and loaches. All in all though, it's a pretty peaceful tank. As far as kribs go, we have a tank of kribs and they're the most passive fish ever.... until they want to mate. Then the dominant male and the dominant female get very aggressive. If you don't have enough space for the other fish to get away and hide, you're asking for trouble. They will continually pester the same fish, even if that fish is hovering in the corner, trying to escape the tank. Kribs really do need their own space.

 

[rollntider]

presently I have a 35 g community tank containing 12 tiger barbs, 3 zebra danios, 6 clown loaches, and 4 rams. Surprisingly enough, the rams are being pushed around by the larger than them barbs and loaches. All in all though, it's a pretty peaceful tank. As far as kribs go, we have a tank of kribs and they're the most passive fish ever.... until they want to mate. Then the dominant male and the dominant female get very aggressive. If you don't have enough space for the other fish to get away and hide, you're asking for trouble. They will continually pester the same fish, even if that fish is hovering in the corner, trying to escape the tank. Kribs really do need their own space.

you have more than one female and male in the same tank? I had a friend his male killed the other 2 and he had to move all but one female...

 

[Alia]

presently I have a 35 g community tank containing 12 tiger barbs, 3 zebra danios, 6 clown loaches, and 4 rams. Surprisingly enough, the rams are being pushed around by the larger than them barbs and loaches.

I don't find that at all surprising. I've always read that rams are fairly shy unless they have fry, and I have always read that tiger barbs are nippy. That seems like a lot of fish for 35 gallons. I'm kind of shocked it's at all peaceful. Do you have a bigger tank to move the loaches to eventually? Don't they get fairly large?

 

[jaukema]

you have more than one female and male in the same tank? I had a friend his male killed the other 2 and he had to move all but one female...

yes we had 5 kribs and 6 acei together.
We recently removed the dominant pair and put them in their own tank, about 2 weeks ago to breed. We now have at least 50 healthy swimming fry.

I don't find that at all surprising. I've always read that rams are fairly shy unless they have fry, and I have always read that tiger barbs are nippy. That seems like a lot of fish for 35 gallons. I'm kind of shocked it's at all peaceful. Do you have a bigger tank to move the loaches to eventually? Don't they get fairly large?

The loaches are being grown to go in our 240 gal. african cichlid tank,
and all the tropicals and a pair of loaches will go in our 90 gal.
We're in the process of renovating and we're building a huge sump for our cichlid system. We've had so much success breeding that we've outgrown our space.
We so many fry and many grow-out tanks all over the house...

As for the tiger barbs being nippy, yes they are, but if you keep them in groups of 8 or more, they're so busy picking at one another, they don't really notice the other fish.

and as an update: the rams are finally becoming more assertive and eating from the surface.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Just wanted to add I have a pair of kribs in a 78litre tank with 2 female mollies and they all seem well.

The male is currently standing guard outside a cave and he is not being too aggressive. The mollies generally just go about their business.