One krib or two: the great debate

[keyholder]

My current setup's got a Dwarf Gourami, a pair of Peacock Gobies, and some schools of CPDs, Cardinal Tetras, and Corydoras Habrosus. It's a 100l tank, by the way. I'm thinking of adding two Kribs - should I go for it?

[medic23]

I'd lean towards exercising caution, my tendency is to err on the side of understocking after all. Adding Kribs would certainly tip the balance in favor of bottom-dwellers, considering the gobies already present.

If you're looking to introduce more movement, have you considered expanding the Peacock Goby shoal instead?

[haven_9]

Kribs and Habrosus cories, not a good combo in the long run, they'd likely see the cories as a snack.

[ridera]

Too hazardous in my view, I recall my Steatocranus with small tankmates was an unmitigated disaster - even my 6cm Lionheads managed to kill a 4-5cm juvenile Ilyodon last summer. West African dwarf cichlids, in my experience, require spacious tanks (a minimum of 3-foot in length, ideally longer) when part of a community setup, with tankmates of comparable size and resilient fish.

My Steatocranus from last year's batch of 50 surprisingly formed a pair, and after their second breeding attempt this winter, I was thrilled to find approximately 25 fry in their 60x30x30cm nursery - a preemptive move to safeguard my other African fish in the Rio240 when they first attempted breeding about six weeks ago. The fry will need an upgrade soon and will likely be moved to my 120x30x37cm tank, probably without their parents, allowing me to safely combine them with my 7 adult Ilyodon xantusi and their 9 teenagers - the size difference should ensure their safety. These livebearers have proven to be the best tankmates I've found for my cichlids, growing up to 10cm in length and possessing a feisty demeanor.

I'm considering trying the biotope-correct Brycinus longipinnis this year, but I'm somewhat apprehensive about reports suggesting they can starve tankmates to death due to their voracious appetite.

An exception to this seems to be my Steatocranus cf. ultraslender, which coexist peacefully with Beckford Pencilfish; Microsynodontis spp.; and Pareutropius cf. mandevillei. However, these two are significantly smaller than my Steatocranus casuarius - about 6cm in total length and roughly the thickness of a biro/pencil, whereas my casuarius are around 7-9cm in length and approximately 2cm+ in girth at the same age.

[haven_9]

I'd advise against it, personally. Combining Kribs with smaller tankmates like the Habrosus cories can be a recipe for disaster. I've had my own share of close calls with my Steatocranus and smaller fish. Even my relatively peaceful Lionheads managed to take out a 4-5cm Ilyodon juvenile last summer.

My Steatocranus have recently bred again, and I'm expecting to upgrade them soon. I'll likely move them to my 120x30x37cm tank, where they'll be safe with my Ilyodon xantusi and their offspring. These livebearers have been a great match for my cichlids - they're feisty and grow up to 10cm, so they can hold their own.

I'm considering trying out Brycinus longipinnis this year, but I've heard they can be aggressive feeders, which makes me a bit wary. Still, I think it's worth exploring, especially if you're looking for a biotope-correct species.

[duskyfish]

I'd advise against it, Kribs can be quite the handful and you've got some peaceful, smaller fish like the pygmy cories and slower swimmers like the gouramis that might get picked on by grumpy cichlids.

[haven_9]

I wouldn't recommend it, they can be a handful, and with your small pygmy cories and slow-moving gouramis, you're just asking for trouble - they could be easy targets for grumpy cichlids.

[keyholder]

Considering alternatives, I'd like something roughly the same size as the Dwarf Gourami, possibly mid- or bottom-dwelling, with vibrant colours, in a pair or trio.

[haven_9]

Too hazardous in my view, I recall my Steatocranus with small tankmates was an unmitigated disaster - even my 6cm Lionheads managed to kill a 4-5cm juvenile Ilyodon last summer. West African dwarf cichlids, in my experience, require spacious tanks (a minimum of 3-foot in length, ideally longer) when part of a community setup, with tankmates of comparable size and resilient fish.

My Steatocranus from last year's batch of 50 surprisingly formed a pair, and after their second breeding attempt this winter, I was thrilled to find approximately 25 fry in their 60x30x30cm nursery - a preemptive move to safeguard my other African fish in the Rio240 when they first attempted breeding about six weeks ago. The fry will need an upgrade soon and will likely be moved to my 120x30x37cm tank, probably without their parents, allowing me to safely combine them with my 7 adult Ilyodon xantusi and their 9 teenagers - the size difference should ensure their safety. These livebearers have proven to be the best tankmates I've found for my cichlids, growing up to 10cm in length and possessing a feisty demeanor.

I'm considering trying the biotope-correct Brycinus longipinnis this year, but I'm somewhat apprehensive about reports suggesting they can starve tankmates to death due to their voracious appetite.

An exception to this seems to be my Steatocranus cf. ultraslender, which coexist peacefully with Beckford Pencilfish; Microsynodontis spp.; and Pareutropius cf. mandevillei. However, these two are significantly smaller than my Steatocranus casuarius - about 6cm in total length and roughly the thickness of a biro/pencil, whereas my casuarius are around 7-9cm in length and approximately 2cm+ in girth at the same age.

I wouldn't, they can be right little terrors, and you have some tiny (pygmy cories) and some slow (gouramis) fish that could be easy pickings for grumpy cichlids.

While I agree they can be right so and so's some people can keep them successfully with gourami's. I kept mine with Shadow Catfish(Hyalobagrus Flavus) which only get to about 2" max and are the most docile, slow fish you could own and my kribs didn't bother them.

Consider me a little greedy, Hyalobagrus flavus are lovely little catfish, some came into stock locally but I was advised that our tap water really needed mixing with RO for their long term health. Like my Pareutropius cf. mandevillei, another midwater schoaling diurnal catfish.

I still have them and I have to ask you, as I'm not sure but do you reckon TLM would be OK with a pair/trio of Agassizi?

[Asteron]

I've had Dwarf Gouramis and Kribs in my tank with no problems. The Kribs stick to the bottom and the Gouramis stay up top, so they don't really interact. My tank is a bit larger than yours, at 288l, which might make a difference.