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Opposite tank? Mad Krib, what am I doing wrong!?

3K views 33 replies 3 participants last post by  CrazedHoosier 
#1 ·
I swear I have never had this many problems with stocking a community tank before! It seems all of the fish that are labeled "peaceful" that I've gotten, turn out to be pretty territorial, and sometimes just flat out vicious! That's right, now my Krib, who I was told by sites, resources and books to be "peaceful", has become aggressive to everything that goes around 3/4 of the way to the bottom! He had only been moderately territorial up until tonight, only protecting a small portion of the bottom, but now he protects all of it, to the point where he has started shredding one of my young female Bettas tails! The only fish he doesn't dare mess with is my Angel (he'd be out immediately if he did). Not even exaggerating, this is the 3rd fish species I've gotten that is labeled as "peaceful" that turns out to be very mean. I know that there's obviously something wrong here because he also chases my Oto! Not even my crazy Pearl Gourami did that (tankman12 know what I'm talking about). If he doesn't settle down in a day or 2, or injures my fish badly, or challenges my Angel, he will be tested in the 10 gallon then returned. I'm tired of all the going out on a limb fish buying, from now on I'm only getting fish I've had experience with/kept, and that are not mindless killers!
 
#3 · (Edited)
Wow, I just found the root to what I think is the problem with my Krib! My Veil Tail female Betta, who is nearly the same size as the Krib, will flare at him and chase him away from his own territory! Should I remove this overly aggressive Betta and put her in my 10 gallon community?

Edit: It may actually not be it. He will also chase her and my larger female Dalmatian Molly. The Molly will get scared and hide from him, while the Betta will challenge him to the territory.
 
#17 ·
Well generally it's not recommended to keep betta with cichlids.. so that may indeed be the problem.. you can try removing the betta, or just exchanging him if you wish.
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#21 · (Edited)
Deathly/scary/stunning encounter

Update! So when I got home I watched the tank for a bit, pretty much the same amount of aggression except now he goes after the Gourami too! I took the girls out, no change in behavior, so I rearranged the plants so more were in the substrate, again no change. Well I only have so many tanks so I realized I can't put just 2 female Bettas in a 10 gallon, so I put one in the 10 gallon and the other in my Male Betta Liam's tank. Of course I removed him! Unfortunately with no tank room left, I had to put him in the 30 hoping that his size would be enough to keep the Krib away. Warning: graphic content! NEVER PUT A MALE BETTA WITH A KRIB! Liam as usual, was calm with the other community fish including the Gourami and Angel, but when he saw the Krib it was like a showdown of good vs evil! He quickly swam over to the Krib and flared like I'd never seen, the Krib seemed very intimidated. After about 30 seconds of flaring the blood bath began. It happened all so fast, I was left gaping! Liam was trying to fight like a Betta, but the Krib was fighting like a Cichlid (lip locking), it was a huge ball of fury! Liam had a past in a community tank at Petco with Rams and Flag Cichlids, when I got him his fins were very torn because of it. It was not the first time he fought with a Cichlid. I know I shouldn't say this, but the way Liam defended himself was actually very amazing, but also scary. That was the first fight I had seen where a fish actually defended himself against the Krib. Liam was only in there 1 minute max, had to get him out ASAP! Liam is now back in his old tank happy as ever; he's very tough and has unfortunately been through worse (thanks Petco). So what I learned today is that Kribs and Bettas are NOT compatible! I removed the bigger female that kept getting herself in trouble with the Krib, but had to leave the smaller in. Hope she can hold her own tonight until I figure out what to do. I never realized how laid back Rams were for Cichlids until now! Kind of regret getting a Krib now. I may exchange him and try a GBR again. Don't really know what to say after this, don't really have any questions, but feel free to drop opinions or Q's! Still in shock!

Edit: Now he's really ticking me off! He's chasing my poor innocent Molly fry everywhere and Molly momma, Harlequins and astonishingly sometimes my Oto! Maybe I should've left Liam in there to kick his butt.... *Joke*
 
#22 ·
I read that if they're being overly aggressive that it could be from territories not being set up with decorations and plants correctly. How do I set it up correctly? I didn't think there was a specific way I had do it
 
#25 ·
He attacked the Angel, so I'm thinking if he has enough guts to do that than he's insane. Probably going to take him back to the petstore tomorrow:-?. I had really hoped that it'd work! I actually just recently learned that they are an African Cichlid, honestly that should've been a warning for me right there. I'm more disappointed in myself than the Krib because of my lack of research on the fish I bought, and the fact that it's not my first overly aggressive fish. I've returned so many fish to Petco by now, I actually know the manager there! I may try Rams again, never realized how peaceful they are.
 
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