Sexing Kribs?

[kniesh]

Hi, I have 2 pairs of kribs now, one in a 26gal and one pair in a 40 gal. It would appear that the pair in the 26gal are in fact male and female. However the pair I have in thwe 40gal appear to be 2 females. I have read a lot about sexing these and have had a lot of varying information, from size, shape of anal fin, dorsal fin etc... These 2 both seem roughly the same size but one has a black dot on the tail fin. This is what I have been using as an indicator but neither are displaying any mating colours and one is definately bullying the other. Could anyone give me a definate way to sex these before its too late.

 

[bobf]

I think I have been looking at the same sites as you and also became confused about the conflicting info.

I have ended up with a male and female krib after one other male died. Since these two are shaping up to mate now then pretty sure I have a pair. Female does the contorted body dance (kind of 's' shaped) and does a little vibrating effect too! Male still seems a bit undecided.

The main differences mine show are that the male has a distinctly more pointed 'delta' tail whereas the female's is more rounded and also that the female shows much more yellow/gold on her face and in the body stripes. Since the other male died my remaining male has grown a fair bit and is distinctly bigger than the female (all 3 were the same size 6 months ago - sold to me as 2 females plus 1 male).

The red belly on the female is distinct and is a rich bergundy colur whilst the male shows a weaker strawberry pink tone

Will post some pics if I get a chance later.

Hope this helps.

 

[Hels]

hi...

i would agree with the other info posted...i have a breeding pair of kribs and the only thing i would add is that colouration on the male can also darken to a really deep red when he's ready to breed...

try going onto google then clicking on image search (above the typing box) and search for 'male krib' and 'female krib'... i've just had a check and some good images come up and hopefully that'll help

 

[bobf]

Here you go...

Mr and Mrs



Mr - note tail and general colour



Mrs




(I should add here that the camera flash has washed the colours out a bit - in reality they are stronger than they appear here)

 

[grottosandfins]

I have a male and two female kribs. The male krib has a tail fin with a sort of rounded triangular shape to it. And he's larger, of course. The females' tails are obviously rounded.

 

[kniesh]

Thx for the replys. Unforunately he was being bullied to the point I had to remove him from the 40gal dwarf cichlid tank. I moved him to the 26gal with 11 tiger barbs an a pair of kribs untill i could rehome him. Unfortunately the pair in here seem quite established an within half an hour it was clearly a bad choice. The only other tank I could put him was a 20gal 2ft tank with a pair of rams, corys, neons and a male an female betta. He seems fine in there, but I have noticed he has lost all of his tail fin. He seems to be visibly healthy besides this, but is this going to grow back or just kill him? thx.

P.S. As soon as I get a chance I am going to rehome him. Grown quite attached to the poor little fella now tho.

 

[karuna]

The posted info seems good and i have just a couple of tips to add that i use with my kribs:

1. once they have become adolescents the males on the pelvic and ventral fins display 'neon' tinges of purple/blue (have never seen a female with these yet but correct me if i'm wrong)

2. the male dorsal fin is much longer and better defined than the females and tapers off to a greater degree displaying more vivid colours