Keeping a pair of kribs in a 20 gallon tank

[oceanwave8]

Just a thought, would a pair of kribs work out in a 20 gallon long with moderate planting? I'm thinking of adding some small schools of black neons and white clouds too. Or should I just stick with the kribs, or is the tank even too small for them alone? I've been doing some research online, but I'm getting mixed signals. They won't be for breeding right away, but that's the plan eventually. I want to make sure I'm not setting myself up for problems down the line. If it's not gonna work out, I can always come up with something else. Appreciate your input.

[fluxy9]

The kribs should work out in a 20-gallon long, as they don't get too large. However, I do have some concerns about mixing them with white clouds or neons. For one, kribs can be pretty aggressive when breeding, and since they're an African cichlid species, I think they'd require a higher pH than what's ideal for the white clouds and neons.

[coldheart]

I've recently set up a 20-gallon specifically for a breeding pair of Kribs, currently they're in a community tank where they're spawning for the second time. I was hoping to move them in time for this batch but it seems they may already have eggs or very small fry in the nest.

The reason for the move is the last time they spawned, they really struggled to keep the other fish at bay, I felt sorry for both them and the other fish. If you're planning to add fish with them and they do decide to spawn, you'll likely find the other fish huddled in a small corner as they won't have room to swim freely in a 20-gallon tank.

[oceanwave8]

Thanks a ton, I really appreciate your input, it's been super helpful in making my decision.

[coldheart]

Just a quick update - got the breeding pair into the 20L, managed to transfer the coconut shell they were using too. Noted around 30-40 eggs stuck to the inside of the roof, hope I didn't damage them when they were briefly out of the water. Female's now mostly staying inside the shell, which is a good sign the fry will be hatching soon. Male's hiding behind a plant, but did see him in the shell earlier.

[ridera]

A bigger tank would be better for a pair of Kribs, at least 3-foot but ideally bigger. If you put small tankmates in a relatively small 20g with a breeding pair, it's like signing their death warrant. In a bigger tank, you can have bigger tankmates - ideally around 7-10cm, so similar in size to a mature male Krib. This way, they can withstand the odd attack if they stray too close to Krib fry. A longer tank can accommodate this and give the dithers a chance to escape or relax if you ensure the Krib family only has one den, tucked away in one corner of the tank.

[oceanwave8]

Thanks for the input, I'm definitely reconsidering. I've been struggling to decide on the right stock for this small tank, I want something unique but I don't want to set myself up for problems.