Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hi All,

I need your help.

I recently got a new male to pair with my existing female. The previous male passed away last week, and I'm still not sure why. I had them for 3 weeks, and they were pretty small when I got them. The female still looks quite young to me. They didn't breed, but they didn't fight either. When the original male died, I went to the LPS and picked the nicest male I could find. There were no females available at the time. This new male is huge compared to the female - at least twice her size. When I introduced him to the tank, he was immediately chased by her. But after 5-10 minutes, things took a turn for the worse. He took over the cave, chased her all around the tank, nipping and beating her. She hid in the plants, but he kept finding her and chasing her again. What caught my attention was that he was fully colored, but she wasn't. Even when she showed him submissive behavior, shaking and curving her head, he still fought her and she ran away.

I've done some research on this, and some people say that two kribs like these will never make a pair. Others say the reason he's aggressive towards her is that she's too young and not ready to breed. If she develops a red belly and shows him she's ready, he might accept her.

For now, I've separated them and I'm trying to find food they like. They don't seem to like the same food as my Angelfish - they only eat black worms. They won't touch granules or tropical food.

Can you please share your thoughts on this? Am I on the right track, or should I consider finding a different partner for one of them?

Thanks

I think it's worth trying to break the territorial hold the female has on the main tank. You could try separating them from the main tank as well, for a week or so, and then introduce them together again. This might help them see each other in a new light, rather than her seeing him as an intruder.

If you have another space where you can introduce them to each other, that might be even better. Kribs can be really territorial, so it's possible that's what's causing the aggression. If you can't get them to accept each other, you might consider returning them to the LFS and swapping for a new pair, but if you have the space, it's worth trying this first.

It's also worth noting that the size difference between them might be a factor, and the fact that she's not showing any breeding colors might be contributing to the male's aggression. But I think it's still worth trying to reintroduce them in a new environment, and see if that makes a difference.

I agree with the suggestions made above, but I think there's more to consider in this situation. Cichlids are known to be quite particular when it comes to selecting their mates, and it's ultimately up to the fish to decide whether they bond or not.

While separating them and reintroducing them to the main tank or a new location may seem like a viable solution, it's essential to remember that this approach doesn't always guarantee a permanent resolution. I've had personal experience with rams that seemed to settle after a similar process, only to have the male turn on the female suddenly, despite them having spawned together multiple times. It became clear that they had never truly bonded.

To minimize further stress on the fish, I would recommend returning the new male and allowing the female to live out her life in peace, without the constant threat of aggression. Alternatively, you could try the suggested method, but it's crucial to be prepared for the possibility that it may not work out, and you may need to return the male or keep them permanently separated.

Thanks both for your advice, I really appreciate it.

For now, I've isolated him in a small floating tank stuck to the inside glass at the top of the main tank, and I've released her back into the main tank. She seems to be recovering well, swimming peacefully and hiding in the cave. This morning, I noticed her swimming near the surface around his floating tank, doing her curving dances and displaying her colours - she's got a red belly now and seems interested in him. His behaviour is quite puzzling though - when she approaches, he becomes very active, follows her head, and appears to be trying to chase her, despite being in his own tank.

I've decided to keep him isolated for now, even though she's showing breeding signs. I'm planning to buy a 70L tank tomorrow, split it into two sections, and keep them separate in there. My only question is - should I keep the glass between them transparent or not? I've read on some forums that keeping the glass transparent can help them bond, as they'll be able to see each other.

Unfortunately, my LPS is refusing to refund or exchange the male, so I'm really hoping I can get them to pair off.