Does anyone see a flaw?

[Biotope Dude]

Well for an African Biotope in my 10g I decided to do Kribensis. Some people are against the keeping P. pulcher in a 10g but it is very doable. I want to set the tank up according to a few things:

1. Natural. Everything must look similar or be the same as what is found in Africa's Niger Delta.
2. Aggression Issues. Hiding places are setup.
3. Breeding. Places for the Kribs to Breed.

Here is my idea:

The substrate I was thinking would be black sand but if someone knows of a substrate that simulates a natural african river please tell me. Im going to use slate to make caves and places to place Anubias and Bolbitis. There will 2 pieces of African rootwood coming out of the slate like an actual root. The background will be black. The plants are as following:

1. Anubias Barteri
2. Anubias barteri nana
3. Anubias barteris var Coffeolia
4. Bolbitis heudelotii

Its just going to be a breeding pair of Kribensis, P. pulcher. The slate will be siliconed together to keep everything sturdy. Does anyone see any flaws?

 

[Katie217]

Looks pretty great to me!

 

[Biotope Dude]

Okay great. I wanted to make sure that when I get the pair and after the tank is cycled and set up that everything can go as smoothly as it can. I may still experience aggression but with all the hideouts I dont think I can go wrong.

 

[Katie217]

I fully intend on keeping my kribs in a 10gal, I dont see why not

 

[Biotope Dude]

James From Cali had sent me a page on Kribs and it said "Although classified as a Dwarf Cichlid, it is still required a minimum tank size of 30g's". I'll have to find the link. I also had asked a few people and they had told me that at least do a 20L for them.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I would guess the substrate in the wild (Niger Delta) is a light color, fine and sandy. Never come across a picture of the actual underwater river, but juding by the banks its a light sand.

 

[Biotope Dude]

Yeah thats what I was thinking as well. Its harder to find a natural colored sand. I only see really bright white sand and the black. Hmm...have to stop by my LFS.

 

[Katie217]

And ok...30gals for kribs? yeah right! haha

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Shoot for playsand from Lowes or Home Depot. Its more of a yellow color then bright white.

 

[Lovingmytank]

I think without anything else in there aggression between the pair will be the problem if you have one, it could work but you would stand more chance with an established pair.

Regarding minimum tank size, certainly they will live and breed in a 10 gal, doesn't mean people will agree that its big enough age old argument.

 

[Fuzz16]

the best thing to do is maybe get one male, and two females. then let there be a chosen pair and take the other female back if you can. this way there isnt a forced pair that dont get a long at all.
cause in the end after spawning a few times they may start to get very aggressive towards one another, possibly killing.

what did you plan on doing with the fry?

 

[sweetpickles7]

I agree with c-man on using play sand.I use it in all of my tanks.Its VERY cheap and really easy to clean.And looks good in my opinion.Your plans look awesome.You should also try to do what fuzz said in that you should get a few females and one male for a good pair to form.

 

[Biotope Dude]

the best thing to do is maybe get one male, and two females. then let there be a chosen pair and take the other female back if you can. this way there isnt a forced pair that dont get a long at all.
cause in the end after spawning a few times they may start to get very aggressive towards one another, possibly killing.

what did you plan on doing with the fry?

That sounds like a good idea. I plan on sending them to either one f my LFS. If James's work has the room for them I will send them there but I will probably send them to the other one thats a few miles a way.

Im going to be looking for Play Sand today when I go to OSH and Home Depot.

 

[Dino]

They do tend to be a bit aggressive, particularly when they are breeding.
Even with many hiding places, I am not sure a 10 would be enough room for the least aggressive fish to escape.

 

[TheFool]

The niger delta is very muddy, but mud or fine sand is fine.

I would note that rather than pulcher, try a more obscure krib as 1. novelty factor, 2. selling the fry of say taeniatus will be much, much easier. There are circa 8 described and undescribed species to choose from, plus a bunch of subspecies

 

[Biotope Dude]

The niger delta is very muddy, but mud or fine sand is fine.

I would note that rather than pulcher, try a more obscure krib as 1. novelty factor, 2. selling the fry of say taeniatus will be much, much easier. There are circa 8 described and undescribed species to choose from, plus a bunch of subspecies

I understand that selling the fry would be easier but alot of places dont carry them in store. P. Puclher is commonly available around her so I was thinking it would be the way to go.