I've got a breeding pair of Kribs that were initially in a community tank. They spawned and I managed to rescue 8 fry, relocating them to a separate small tank. The breeding pair then joined their coconut shell, now home to over 30 eggs, in another small tank.
Now that they're alone, without any other fish to stress about, they rarely venture out of the shell. The male spends most of the day in the shell with the female. I've kept the lights off, and they start to emerge as it gets dark. However, as soon as I turn on the room lights, they quickly retreat back into the shell.
I know they need time to settle, but it's been 5 days already. I'm wondering when they'll regain their confidence and start swimming freely. Will it happen once the new fry hatch?
Kribs' behavior has changed
Re: Kribs' behavior has changed
The shy behaviour you're witnessing in your Kribs is pretty typical of dwarf cichlids, they often rely on the presence of "dither" tankmates to feel secure enough to venture out and be seen. I've had experience with Steatocranus spp. cichlids, which, despite being from similar waters as Kribs, thrive in turbulent conditions reminiscent of the Zaire/Congo River. My Steatocranus tinanti, for instance, are always out and about in a community setting, but when I've had to isolate them, they become much more secretive.
I recall when I had to separate them due to their tendency to nip at my Hoplo Catfish's fins and barbels - not a pleasant sight. Similarly, my bonded pair of Steatocranus casuarius, which recently spawned and had to be isolated, also became quite reclusive. Kribs are generally less aggressive towards tankmates when they have fry, unlike my Steatocranus, which have been known to kill tankmates in community tanks.
If you're looking to introduce dither fish to your Kribs' tank, there are a few things to keep in mind. The tank should be a decent size, ideally 4-foot, to give the dithers enough space to coexist without being attacked. You'll also want to avoid any fish that might innocently wander into the fry nursery or get too close to the parents, so floor-dwellers like Corydoras are out of the question. The tankmates should be non-threatening to the fry, yet large enough to withstand an occasional attack from the male Krib. African Red Eye Tetra, which inhabit the upper water, could be a good choice, but they do require some space in a 4-foot tank. Alternatively, you could try fluxx Yellow Congo Tetra in a well-designed hardscape with a 3-foot tank, just be sure to include at least two females per male to minimize the risk of jousting injuries.
I recall when I had to separate them due to their tendency to nip at my Hoplo Catfish's fins and barbels - not a pleasant sight. Similarly, my bonded pair of Steatocranus casuarius, which recently spawned and had to be isolated, also became quite reclusive. Kribs are generally less aggressive towards tankmates when they have fry, unlike my Steatocranus, which have been known to kill tankmates in community tanks.
If you're looking to introduce dither fish to your Kribs' tank, there are a few things to keep in mind. The tank should be a decent size, ideally 4-foot, to give the dithers enough space to coexist without being attacked. You'll also want to avoid any fish that might innocently wander into the fry nursery or get too close to the parents, so floor-dwellers like Corydoras are out of the question. The tankmates should be non-threatening to the fry, yet large enough to withstand an occasional attack from the male Krib. African Red Eye Tetra, which inhabit the upper water, could be a good choice, but they do require some space in a 4-foot tank. Alternatively, you could try fluxx Yellow Congo Tetra in a well-designed hardscape with a 3-foot tank, just be sure to include at least two females per male to minimize the risk of jousting injuries.
Re: Kribs' behavior has changed
Your explanation makes sense in retrospect, as they were always out and about before the move, with the male keeping watch and chasing off any intruders. The female would also join in, sending other fish packing. I had them with Corys, Tetras, and a couple of smaller Kribs that got bullied away.
I felt a bit sorry for them, always on high alert, so I thought moving them to their own tank would give them a break. Now it seems that might've been a mistake. I do have a coldwater tank that could be converted to tropical, and I could relocate the Danios to another coldwater tank, but I'm worried about stressing them out again after their recent move.
The Danio tank is a decent size, 3 meters long, so that could work. I've also got some Red Eye Tetras and Black Phantom Tetras that could serve as dithers, although they've grown a bit large since I got them.
I felt a bit sorry for them, always on high alert, so I thought moving them to their own tank would give them a break. Now it seems that might've been a mistake. I do have a coldwater tank that could be converted to tropical, and I could relocate the Danios to another coldwater tank, but I'm worried about stressing them out again after their recent move.
The Danio tank is a decent size, 3 meters long, so that could work. I've also got some Red Eye Tetras and Black Phantom Tetras that could serve as dithers, although they've grown a bit large since I got them.
Re: Kribs' behavior has changed
I've taken the plunge and moved the Kribs to a 90 Litre tank, as suggested, with 5 Danios as dither fish to keep them company. I made sure to transfer their coconut shell too, but when I inspected it, I noticed the eggs were no longer stuck to the inside roof - they were definitely there when I first moved the shell from the community tank to the small 24 Litre one.
I double-checked the small tank for any signs of fry, but there was nothing. It got me wondering if the Kribs might have eaten the eggs after the initial move - do they typically do that?
Anyway, the Kribs seem to be enjoying their new surroundings. I observed them exploring all the nooks and crannies of the 90 Litre tank, and they even checked out the cave and their coconut shell. This time, they didn't just dart for the shell and stay there; they took their time, which suggests the dither fish might have been the key to their shyness. The tank has plenty of hiding places, thanks to the plants, so it'll be interesting to see where they decide to set up home.
I double-checked the small tank for any signs of fry, but there was nothing. It got me wondering if the Kribs might have eaten the eggs after the initial move - do they typically do that?
Anyway, the Kribs seem to be enjoying their new surroundings. I observed them exploring all the nooks and crannies of the 90 Litre tank, and they even checked out the cave and their coconut shell. This time, they didn't just dart for the shell and stay there; they took their time, which suggests the dither fish might have been the key to their shyness. The tank has plenty of hiding places, thanks to the plants, so it'll be interesting to see where they decide to set up home.
Re: Kribs' behavior has changed
Black Neons would also be an excellent choice for dither fish, their active nature and tendency to school in the upper water column would provide a sense of security for the Kribs, allowing them to feel more at ease and venture out of their hiding places.