Kribs

[Biulu]

HI,

I just got myself 2 kribs after a long search. They are still young though, and are about 3 cm long. One is already colouring up with a purple belly and a nice orange band on its dorsal fin, but the other one has only the typical lateral band and no other features whatsoever.

When can I expect them to be fully coloured and should I be able to know the definitive sex of these lovely fish?

Thanks!

 

[kribensis12]

Do you have any pic's? I could sex them for you, as long as the are over 2cm! If you have a female, amybe in around a month they will become sexually active.

 

[Biulu]

Ok, I will try to take some pictures today, and will post them later.

 

[Biulu]

Hi Kribensis,

here we go:

The first 2 pictures are of the 'colourless' one, and the other one of the more pronounced one.

and this is the coloured one:

I hope you will be able to sex them for me. Thanks!

 

[firetank]

First is a male, bottom is female...

good luck

 

[kribensis12]

If they are both the same size, 1st is a male, 2nd is a female.

 

[Biulu]

They are more or less the same size; difference is only minimal. Interesting; can you tell from the dorsal fin? Curently it looks as if the female (coloured one) is more dominant than the male then.

I do hope they pair up though.....

 

[kribensis12]

Male's usually have a more pointed dorsal fin, which is why i am question your "male". But other than that, it look's like a male. The 2nd one is defo a female. This is how i alway's sexed krib's over 2 cm, and i havent been wrong once i give my final awnser:
Males: Pales olive green color, thicker bar on their body when not breeding, pointed dorsal fin, stream-ined body, blue pelvic fin's
Females: Thick rounded body, red/;pink/purple stomach, rounded fin's, red/purple/pink pelvic fin's, golen colored dorsal fin, smaller body bar when not breeding, I have also noticed that female's mouth's are more rounded, when male's are more pointed.

 

[Biulu]

Thanks very much! I do not see any really pointed dorsals yet. Problem is that part of the fin is still colourless; maybe this will colour up later? I also thought the second one was a female from what I saw of other pictures. I noticed that there is also a difference between a 'black' spot in the tail fin for the one sex, and not for the other?

Funny though, that in this species the female is much more colourful than the male.

 

[Biulu]

In the mean time the male has grown about another cm, while the female only grew in width.... He does seem to be a male, since he is courting her, although until now with little success. She is not really responding yet. He also has become territorial....

 

[kribensis12]

Got any pic's? Would love to see them again!

 

[Biulu]

Have a look at my new message; they are now a confirmed couple and building a nest! I have a picture of the male in there as well.