Kribensis pair in community tank?

[kebuchan]

Hi all,

I'm new here, it seems like people really know what they're talking about so I thought I'd ask a questiton. I just picked up a pair of kribs last week and put them in a 10g. That might be a little small but it's got a few terracotta caves, shells, a couple of fake plants and fine gravel. So far the female has been living in one cave and the male basically sits on the gravel at the other end of the tank behind one of the other caves. She always runs out there and takes nips at him and he doesn't do much other than run around trying to avoid her.

He has a few nipped fins and tail, I was thinking of moving him or moving them both. I have an empty 20g and a 55g community. What do you guys think of me putting the pain in the 55g community tank?
The occupants of the community tank are:

6 zebra danios
6 cherry barbs
1 sailfin molly
1 small SAE
2 American-Flag fish (pair)
3 Bala Sharks (5" and 6")

If I did put the Kribs in ther with a cave or two from the 10g and they happened to spawn, would they be able to hold their own against the sharks?

Optionally I could split the pair up and put one in the commuity and leave one in the 10g.

Thanks!

Kevin

 

[Fuzz16]

you need to rehome the bala sharks, they will get way to big for your tank.
and the pair will be fine in the 55g...but your tank is a bit overcrowded with the bala sharks in there.

or you could leave them in the 10g and move everything around a bit and hope for the best

 

[sweetpickles7]

Yea i would say take out the balas and add the kribs.For some reason everytime i have tried to keep kribs,they have always been alot more active with other fish in the tank?

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Agreed. Don't split them up, unless its like 2 males? I'd either leave them in the 10 or even better, put them in the empty 20gal. They could work in the 55gal but like the others said its a bit overcrowded....or will be, with the sharks. They just get to big and active for a tank like a 55gal. 55gal footprints suck.

 

[kebuchan]

Thanks guys... actually I bought th Danios a couple of days ago to use as dither fish for the kribs. However, I'm not sure about putting the kribs and 4-6 danios in a 10g. Thoughts?

I don't particularly like the Bala's, they're too big and hyper. I bought a used tank and they came with the tank. I will gladly trade them at the lfs as soon as I get a chance to talk to the owner.

Thanks!

Kevin

 

[sweetpickles7]

First off what type of danios?That would be overstocked in a 10g.Do as c-man says,put them in the 20gal,if possible.That way u could have the danios in there to.

 

[kebuchan]

They're just the regular Zebra Danios, they're about 1.5" long. I might be overcrowded specially if I want to put more than 2 in there with the kribs. However, any less and they probably would get severely ripped up by the Kribs.

The kribs weren't eaten anything (flakes, freeze dried stuff etc). Then I tried feeding them some live brine shrimp and they were all over it
*thumbsups

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[sweetpickles7]

Did u move them to the 20gal?

 

[Lovingmytank]

As already mentioned the 20 gal would be better for the kribs as aggression would be less likely in the 20 than the 10.

however!! Zebra Danios make great dithers for Kribs as they are fast enough to get out the way of the Krib and I would be surprised if the kribs could get hold of them to do any serious damage! a smaller shoal of the danios say 3-4 and the kribs in the 10 I believe would be fine! its all by the by though if you decide to setup the 20 then you can keep the 10 running for a baby grow on!?

 

[kebuchan]

Nope, haven't got the 20g set up yet. Need to figure out where to put it, right now that's an issue.

The Krib pair are still doing exactly the same thing, I don't see much aggression but he is in one corner sitting behind a porcelain cave and she's in her terra cave. They don't really interact at all.

When I feed them (brine shrimp/blood worms), she comes out and gets some but also tries to keep him away.

After doing some more reading, I wonder if it's his size. He is slightly smaller than she is, could that have anything to do with her dominance?

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[Lovingmytank]

How big are they?

Females do tend to be the more aggressive but I have to say I've never had problems literally throwing Kribs together and getting a pair.

Keep feeding the live food try some blood worm that always got my females in the mood and then let her instigate the shaking with the male.

 

[kebuchan]

They're both about 2.5" or so but the female is "taller". Overall she's bigger than the male, he's a lot more slender.

Will try the blood worms.

A lot of people seem to have got them spawning in a community tank, so I am seriously considering moving them there. Just so long as I can move my bala's out of there I think they should be good to go.

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[kebuchan]

They're both back in the community tank as of yesterday afternoon.

One thing wierd, I put him into the community tank first and he got all colorful, looked awesome. Then I put her in there and he lost all his color. Is that normal?

Very interesting turn of events. She still chases him and tries to nip at him but he just flares up and vibrates and stands his ground. He has never nipped her at all just doesn't run away when she goes for him.

Not sure what's going to happy with the Kirbs but I still have my 3 Balas in there, need to get rid of them somehow. Haven't managed to talk to the LFS owner yet, hopefully sometime this week.


Kevin