kribs

Falina

I know they can be nippy, but kept in a tank with a couple of synodontis would they be alright? What's the best amount and male/female ratio to keep agression to min?

Thanks.

Lupin

A pair will be fine. Just provide enough rocks for them to establish territories. I had them mixed with synos before and never had problems with them since there is enough hiding places for them to live.:)

The only time you'll worry about them is when they begin to breed. Their whole personality changes during spawning time like other cichlids do.

Good luck.8)

Falina

WOO!

This the first "plan" I've had for a while that hasn't somehow been flawed!

I have my new tank cycling and have had a million ideas about what to put in it, so far this is the best one. I have worked and re-worked a million times what I am going to put where. After all the ideas I thoguht I had cracked it by making my new one a cichlid only tank (probably convicts but def cics anyway) but then that would have meant cories with the 2 synos, that that wouldn't work either! So I am estatic at your reply there!

*does the dance of victory*

Blue, would a single pair be better than a couple of pairs, as long as there were an equal amount of males to females? I ask because the tank would seem a tad empty with just those 4 fish in there. I was considering 4-6 kribs. If a single pair is best, is there anything else that would work?

Thanks :D

Lupin

You're better off with a single pair than a couple. Kribs are often eager to breed and are quite vicious at spawning time.

Falina

A pair it is then :)

To make sure I get a male and a female what do I look for? I always thoguht that the females had red bellies but this link confused me...

http://www.thekrib.com/Apisto/P-pulcher.html

The top male one is very brightly coloured with a very red belly. Anything else I should look out for?

Thanks Blue.

Lupin

This one is indeed a male. Notice the end tip of its dorsal fin? It is rather long and pointed compared to the female. Males are also bigger than the females. There are lots of color variations and in my case, females are often the ones more colorful and elegant compared to the males.

Falina

Thanks Blue. I was just confused because of his red belly. I always thoguht this was a female trait.

A pair of kribs it's gonna be then :D

I'm seriously considering not putting my 2 synos in there though. I've been watching one of them in particular lately and she guards her territory with her life! This would be fine if she chose just one cave and stuck to it, but she's claiming them all! She swims frantically from one to the next hunting anyone who dares enter her lairs! I feel that the poor kribs might not get any sort of cave if they lived with her and I know they're fond of a hiding place as well. My other syno is much more peaceful though, despite being at least 4x the size of the first one so she could go in there with them. The poor thing has resorted to going head first vertically into plants because she can't get near any wood or caves as she just gets hunted! It might be good for her to be moved into the other tank come to think of it :)

willow

how did you get on with the kribs ?
you have sparked my interest.

Falina

I got on badly. The male bullied the female badly and I had to return him. The female died soon the following day from what I believe was stress.

They were in the tank themselves, before I put the synos in so we can't blame them. I guess thats cics for you. :(

willow

oh,that's not nice :(
didn't think that that was going to be the answer.