PPulcher
Sep 28th 2007, 12:03 PM
Common name: Kribensis, Krib, Purple Cichlid,
Scientific name: , Pelvichromis pulcher
Family: Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Origin: West Africa: Southern Nigeria. Also known from the coastal zone of Cameroon
Adult size: Up to 11 cm
Tank Specs
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Water Parameters (PH/GH/KH): Prefer slightly soft acidic water in pH range 6.0 – 7.0 and dH range: 5 - 12 but will tolerate more alkaline water for maintenance. Generally undemanding
Temperature: 24 – 25°C
Special Requirements: Suitable Tankmates: Small dithers such as Guppies, Endlers or Danios.
Minimum Group Size: Single, or pairs
Diet: Frozen brine shrimp, blood worms and live worms when you can get them. Sinking pellets.
Sexing: Clear sexual dimorphism; males are torpedo shaped while females are more round.
Breeding and Reproduction: Cave spawner. Prove a half coconut or flower pot, otherwise fish will dig under rocks and bogwood.
Breeding: The fish exhibit an interesting spawning ritual. The female will display her reddish belly to the male. I've seen this behaviour exhibited as sign of submission from the female even if there is no spawning activity going on. The pair will spawn in a cave and tend the eggs. Once hatched, the pair will 'herd' the cloud of fry and protect them from other fish. This is when the fish becomes very aggressive. Feed the fry baby brine shrimp and/or crushed flakes. The fry also do well in an established tank with lots of plants that harbor micro-food. You'll get better sex ratios with neutral, soft water.
Notes: This fish has been in the hobby for a long time, but it's hard to resist it's charms. It will spawn in moderately hard, alkaline water but sex ratios may be skewed. Add some dither fish, or else the pair will hide most of the time. They favour the bottom of the tank and relate to plants, roots, rocks and caves.
This is the first Cichlid that I ever spawned (hence my screen name) and it's fun to watch the pair herd the fry around the tank. Sometimes the pair will turn on each other after the fry are free swimming. It's best to remove the 'loser' and allow the fry to grow a little before removing them. The fish is super aggressive at spawning time and with fry.
Summary: a great dwarf Cichlid suitable for medium sized tanks.
Scientific name: , Pelvichromis pulcher
Family: Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Origin: West Africa: Southern Nigeria. Also known from the coastal zone of Cameroon
Adult size: Up to 11 cm
Tank Specs
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Water Parameters (PH/GH/KH): Prefer slightly soft acidic water in pH range 6.0 – 7.0 and dH range: 5 - 12 but will tolerate more alkaline water for maintenance. Generally undemanding
Temperature: 24 – 25°C
Special Requirements: Suitable Tankmates: Small dithers such as Guppies, Endlers or Danios.
Minimum Group Size: Single, or pairs
Diet: Frozen brine shrimp, blood worms and live worms when you can get them. Sinking pellets.
Sexing: Clear sexual dimorphism; males are torpedo shaped while females are more round.
Breeding and Reproduction: Cave spawner. Prove a half coconut or flower pot, otherwise fish will dig under rocks and bogwood.
Breeding: The fish exhibit an interesting spawning ritual. The female will display her reddish belly to the male. I've seen this behaviour exhibited as sign of submission from the female even if there is no spawning activity going on. The pair will spawn in a cave and tend the eggs. Once hatched, the pair will 'herd' the cloud of fry and protect them from other fish. This is when the fish becomes very aggressive. Feed the fry baby brine shrimp and/or crushed flakes. The fry also do well in an established tank with lots of plants that harbor micro-food. You'll get better sex ratios with neutral, soft water.
Notes: This fish has been in the hobby for a long time, but it's hard to resist it's charms. It will spawn in moderately hard, alkaline water but sex ratios may be skewed. Add some dither fish, or else the pair will hide most of the time. They favour the bottom of the tank and relate to plants, roots, rocks and caves.
This is the first Cichlid that I ever spawned (hence my screen name) and it's fun to watch the pair herd the fry around the tank. Sometimes the pair will turn on each other after the fry are free swimming. It's best to remove the 'loser' and allow the fry to grow a little before removing them. The fish is super aggressive at spawning time and with fry.
Summary: a great dwarf Cichlid suitable for medium sized tanks.