Hi,
I just added some Anubias on driftwood to my Kribensis tank.
The tank's pretty simple, just one female Krib and a couple Nerite snails.
She's really taken to the driftwood - I catch her nibbling on it a lot.
I noticed a bunch of brown stuff and grabbed my trusty turkey baster to suck it up.
It wasn't poop, but tiny wood bits I think.
I'm still figuring things out.
Is this normal for cichlids?
Thanks,
GG
krib's unusual diet
Re: krib's unusual diet
What your Krib is likely feeding on is the bacteria growing on the wood, and if the wood's slightly rotten, she's probably pulling off tiny bits. Kribs are detritivores, which means they feed on debris from the bottom of streams, picking off invertebrates, bacteria, and plant matter. They're classic bottom feeders, so this behavior's pretty typical for them.
Keeping Cichlids can be a real learning experience, as you're seeing firsthand. There's no one-size-fits-all approach to caring for them, since each species has its own specializations. You've got detritus eaters, fish eaters, snail eaters, algae eaters - even fry eaters and some that'll eat eyes and scales. If the environment presents an opportunity, Cichlids will adapt and develop the necessary structures and feeding instincts to take advantage of it.
As you're finding out, caring for a detritivore Krib is different from caring for a mid-water Cichlid. It's all about figuring out what works best for your specific fish and their needs. And that's what makes it so much fun.
Keeping Cichlids can be a real learning experience, as you're seeing firsthand. There's no one-size-fits-all approach to caring for them, since each species has its own specializations. You've got detritus eaters, fish eaters, snail eaters, algae eaters - even fry eaters and some that'll eat eyes and scales. If the environment presents an opportunity, Cichlids will adapt and develop the necessary structures and feeding instincts to take advantage of it.
As you're finding out, caring for a detritivore Krib is different from caring for a mid-water Cichlid. It's all about figuring out what works best for your specific fish and their needs. And that's what makes it so much fun.
Re: krib's unusual diet
Thanks for the insight Gary. I always find your knowledge on Cichlids fascinating, and I appreciate you sharing it with us. I've been doing some reading on the rapid evolution of Cichlids in Lake Victoria and surrounding areas. It's amazing to see how they adapt to their environment, and as you said, there's a Cichlid for every niche. I've been intrigued by the idea of having a species-specific tank, particularly those mini shell dwellers - they seem like a fun challenge. Your post really helped me understand my Krib's behavior, so thanks again for your time.
Re: krib's unusual diet
The shell dwellers are hard water fish, which is pretty much the opposite of what Kribs need. I think they're really cool fish though, both of them.