Kribensis
Quick Stats
| Size | Up to 4" (10cm) Females smaller |
|---|---|
| Tank | 60 litres + |
| Swimming Area | Bottom, middle |
| Ph | 5.0 to 7.5 |
| Temperature | 75ºF to 84ºF(25-30°C) |
| Food | Flaked, live and frozen foods |
Common Name:
Kribensis, Dwarf Rainbow Cichlid.
Distribution:
Tropical West Africa, the Niger river Delta.
Colouration:
Kribs are an attractive fish and their coloration varies. Here is a general color. The back is brownish with either a Blue or Lilac sheen to it, becoming an off White to Ivory towards the belly area which also has the same sheen as the back area. The most distinctive trait is the large Rose to Purple colored marking on the belly which extends almost to the back. On the back edge of the gill covers there is a Brown spot edged with Red on top and Blue on the bottom. The Anal fin is a pale Lilac The Ventral fins Have bright Blue front edges with blue fin rays and the body of the fins are is violet in males and Red in females. The males Caudal fin has one to five "eye" spots that dark in color and edged in Yellow.
Lifespan:
5 years +
Maintenance:
10 to 20% weekly water changes.
Feeding:
They will accept all types of food and relish anything live.
Substrate:
Sand.
Tank Decor:
The Kribs live mainly in West African rivers and they prefer shallow water with lots of shelter from plants and drift wood and rock caves.
Filtration:
Standard filtration for the size of the tank.
Biotype:
Shallow areas with leafy plants, bog wood and leaf debris in slow moving water in Southern Nigeria.
Breeding:
The Krib is a typical shelter breeder which will spawn in a rock cave or an inverted flowerpot which have narrow entrances. The Red-Brown eggs hatch in two to three days with both parents guarding the fry. The babies are free swimming four to five days after hatching and are easy to raise. The young can be feed baby brine shrimp "Artemia" and fine flake food. Growth is fairly quick.