Page 1 of 1

removing the male krib after breeding

Posted: Thu May 15, 2025 1:34 pm
by graspit
Hi,

I've recently introduced a new pair of Kribs to my community, and after a successful spawn, the fry are now swimming freely alongside the parents. However, the male Krib's aggression has become a major concern. I did expect some territorial behavior, especially with the fry around, but I thought the 6ft tank with a handful of tankmates (1x Heckelli, 1x L333 Pleco, 1x Bristlenose, 6x Kuhli Loaches) would help minimize any issues. The problem is, the male Krib relentlessly pursues the Heckelli, which doesn't seem to stand up for itself. I'm worried the Heckelli will succumb to stress if this continues. Is it possible to rehome the male Krib without disrupting the female and fry? Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers!

Re: removing the male krib after breeding

Posted: Thu May 15, 2025 2:33 pm
by russety
Kribs can be ruthless once they've had enough of company. Removing the Heckelli might calm the male down, but it's likely he'll just find a new target. If that happens, it's probably best to rehome the aggressive male. In my experience, breeding kribs tend to be pretty intolerant of tankmates. That 6ft tank is a good size, though - it's possible to find a balance, but don't underestimate how fast kribs can move when they're angry.

Re: removing the male krib after breeding

Posted: Thu May 15, 2025 2:56 pm
by graspit
Thanks russety, I appreciate your input. I've made the decision to remove the male as he was relentless in his pursuit of the other fish. I do feel a pang of guilt for separating the parents, it's just their natural instinct after all. Once the fry are old enough to fend for themselves, assuming they make it that far, I'll reintroduce the female to the male and reassess the situation from there.

Re: removing the male krib after breeding

Posted: Thu May 15, 2025 3:23 pm
by reefstar
graspit wrote: Thu May 15, 2025 1:34 pm Hi,

I've recently introduced a new pair of Kribs to my community, and after a successful spawn, the fry are now swimming freely alongside the parents. However, the male Krib's aggression has become a major concern. I did expect some territorial behavior, especially with the fry around, but I thought the 6ft tank with a handful of tankmates (1x Heckelli, 1x L333 Pleco, 1x Bristlenose, 6x Kuhli Loaches) would help minimize any issues. The problem is, the male Krib relentlessly pursues the Heckelli, which doesn't seem to stand up for itself. I'm worried the Heckelli will succumb to stress if this continues. Is it possible to rehome the male Krib without disrupting the female and fry? Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers!
Thanks for the advice russety. I've taken your suggestion and removed the male krib, he just wouldn't leave the other fish alone, constantly chasing them. I feel a bit guilty splitting the parents up, especially since this aggression is just their natural instinct. I'll wait till the fry are independent, fingers crossed they'll survive, then I'll reintroduce the female to the male and see how things go from there.