Kribs
by Bob Berdoulay
From Gravel Gossip, Diamond State Aquarium Society, Delaware City
Aquarticles
A number of years ago, my son reintroduced me to the aquarium hobby. He already had a
set-up in his apartment and dragged me to a meeting of the Diamond State Aquarium Society.
I don’t remember what the topic was that night, but the people at the meeting were
friendly and more than willing to answer any of my simplistic questions. From that first
meeting, I got hooked like a fish (sorry).
After listening to some of the society members' talk, I decided I didn't want to just
set up an attractive tank but to try and raise and breed a given species. I went out and
bought two twenty-nine gallon tanks. One I set up in an Amazonian habitat loaded with a
variety of tetras and a few Cory cats. The other I set up with eight young high-fin
veil-tail angels. The exploits of my attempts and final success in getting these angels to
breed, I wrote about in a previous article.
This writing is to tell you about my experience with a small cichlid called The Rainbow
Dwarf Cichlid or Krib, known in scientific circles as Pelvicachromis pulcher or
in past times Pelmatochromis kribensis. (B. Smith take note). These are West
African dwarf cichlids. The Latin term “pulcher” means beautiful and that they
are. This small cichlid is peaceful, colorful and well suited to a 10-20 gallon tank. Not
only that but they spawn easily and the parents care for the fry. They are adaptable to
varying water conditions but do best at 72-76o F. with a pH between 7.0 and 7.6. A small
gravel substrate in recommended since the adults dig pits for spawning. Kribs should be
provided with some form of cave for their spawning. With a good varied diet they will be
able to spawn at 6-8 months.
At the DSAS meeting's auction, my son purchased a pair of kribs; he, however, hadn't a
place for them and asked me to keep them in one of my tanks. By this time I had acquired a
few extra tanks, including a fifty-five gallon in which I placed the pair of kribs along
with some young angels. One week later, the pair had dug a hole in a corner of the tank
under a rock, and had deposited eggs on the tank glass. I watched in fascination as the
adults stood guard over the clutch and took on all of their tank mates that came to close.
Sad to say, after four days the eggs were gone.
I waited a few days and transferred the pair of kribs to another tank I had set up for
them. This was a ten-gallon tank with gravel bottom, corner filter and a three-inch
flowerpot surrounded with slate to form a cave. The pH was neutral (7) and the water soft;
temperature was 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The pair took up residence in the cave after
exploring their new domain. I alternated their feedings between flake foods and frozen
brine shrimp. The pre-spawning behavior seems to be initiated by the female; she is the
more brightly colored with her abdomen appearing a rosy red. After three days of the pair
checking out all the possible spawning sites in their tank, I was rewarded by the pair
depositing eggs on the glass behind the filter. (So much for caves). The pair stood guard
with the female constantly fanning the eggs. Three days later the eggs were gone; I
assumed the adults had eaten them. Great breeding technique!
But wait! Five days later while feeding the adults I noticed movement in the flower pot
cave. And what to my wondering eyes did appear? Fry, about twenty, 1/4 inch long, light
tan with dark spots. Boy, am I a great fish breeder or what? I immediately added some
infusoria and set to hatching brine shrimp. I fed the fry with a combination of
microworms, brine shrimp nauplii, and very finely ground flake food. The fry grew rapidly.
I left the adults with the fry, and watched as the female herded her brood around the tank
and got them in the cave at the slightest sign of danger (me). After three weeks the fry
could be seen wandering around the tank on their own. Since the adults were not needed and
seem to have lost interest I removed them from the tank.
I have gotten the pair of Kribs to breed many times since that time, most of the time
in a 3” flowerpot laid on its side. This shy little cichlid makes an excellent
starter cichlid for anyone interested in breeding egg layers. It's attractive coloration,
small size (2 1/2 - 3 inches), non-aggressiveness, and fair tolerance of water conditions
make it an amateur's dream.
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