Kribensis breeding help.?

Question

Hi,

I have had a pair of kribensis in a tank for months and they haven't spawned, but they did for their previous owner. They are definitely male and female. The previous owner had them in a tank with other kribensis.

Do you think buying more kribs would make the pair want to breed?

Answer 1

Soups probably bang on....

Kribs are usually really easy to breed sorry about your luck.

There is a ton of info online for breeding them....

But like soup said, even the wrong pH ( as easy as throwing in some drift wood to lower the pH could do it) will upset the fish.

She may want spawning rock and like with most fish if you want them to breed crank up the temp.

Or maybe they don't like the sword tails and one of those fish is upsetting the female.

So...

check for correct pH (always alter naturally...using chemicals is suicide)

check for right temp

Spawning rock or maybe she wants sand or a tube.

Culprits....sword tails would eat her fry in a second but kribs are unreal parents so who knows there...

good luck!!!

Answer 2

It's possible, but a few things here.  How old are these fish in general?  It's possible they may be past their breeding time?  How is your tank water chemistry?  Are you keeping it at African Rift Lake conditions?  What size tank are they in?  Are there any other tank mates or do they have the tank to themselves?

Thanks Soopy!  The only other thing I can think of, maybe tank too small and they can't find a comfortable niche to get it on...but that probably would only come into play if there are other tank mates in.  Really not sure at this point.  Will check in later.

Answer 3

More Kribs will, if anything, DISCOURAGE the pair to spawn.  I would look to your water quality as a major factor, as the stress from nitrogen compounds can easily prevent them from breeding.  Also, I would check your pH, as too high a pH will also discourage the fish from breeding-- they're indigenous to soft, acidic water.  If you really want them to breed, I would figure out what's wrong rather than guess.  Testing for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH and/or alkalinity would be a good start.

EDIT: There is a possibility they have in fact spawned, but the eggs were quickly eaten by the Pleco.  Just because they were in water cycled through several tanks doesn't mean it couldn't have the low pH Kribs like, especially if the person was keeping mostly South American fish.