Kribensis
Pelvicachromis pulcher
Min Tank Size
75L
Adult Size
10 cm
Lifespan
5 years
About
Native to the coastal rivers and streams of southern Nigeria and Cameroon, kribensis are one of those fish that genuinely deliver on the hype. Compact, colorful, and surprisingly beginner-friendly, they've been a staple of the hobby for decades, and for good reason.
Males reach around 10 cm; females stay noticeably smaller, topping out closer to 7 cm, and sport a rounder belly that flushes a deep magenta-purple when they're in breeding condition. It's one of the more dramatic color displays you'll see in a community fish.
8 without complaint. Temperature between 24 and 28 degrees suits them well. They spend most of their time in the lower half of the tank, poking around substrate and investigating caves, driftwood, and any other cover you give them. Diet is straightforward: they'll accept quality flake, pellets, and frozen foods like bloodworm or brine shrimp readily. A mix keeps them in best color and condition.
Temperament-wise they're peaceful in the general sense but shift noticeably once they've claimed territory or started a spawn, and that's when they can become a problem for smaller or slower tankmates. Still, outside of breeding periods, most community setups handle them without drama.
If you want to see what a well-set-up krib tank actually looks like in practice, browsing builds from other hobbyists is one of the fastest ways to get ideas for cave placement, planting, and compatible fish choices.
Water Parameters
Temperature
°CpH
GH
dGHKH
dKHSwimming Level
Flow Preference
Keeping multiple Kribensis together
Kribensis is strongly territorial. Multiples fight over space unless the tank is large enough for each to claim its own area. A single individual is the safer default.
Compatibility
They work well in community tanks with fish that occupy the upper water column, things like medium tetras, rasboras, mollies, and platies tend to coexist fine because they stay out of the kribs' territory. Corydoras are a common pairing and usually work, though they can take some harassment when kribs are breeding. Avoid anything small and slow moving at the bottom level, including dwarf shrimp, which will be hunted. Other bottom-dwelling cichlids or aggressive fish are risky. A 120-liter or larger tank with plenty of sight-breaks dramatically reduces the chance that a breeding pair disrupts the whole community.
Commonly kept with
Species this one is most often paired withCommonly tried but avoid
Often paired, but shouldn't beCare Notes
The most common beginner mistake is keeping them without adequate caves. A terracotta pot on its side or a coconut shell isn't just decoration, it's genuinely needed for their wellbeing and behavior. Without one they become more stressed and erratic. The other issue is assuming a bonded pair will always stay bonded. If they fail to spawn repeatedly, or if one fish becomes dominant and bullies the other, you need a backup plan to separate them. They don't demand pristine water, but consistent parameters and regular water changes keep them healthy and in good color.
Behavior & Aggression
Kribs are peaceful until they breed, then the dynamic changes fast. A spawning pair will defend their cave with real intensity, chasing and nipping anything that comes too close, including fish considerably larger than themselves. The aggression is almost entirely territory-based, centered on the cave entrance and the immediate surrounding area. Without a cave or spawning trigger present, they're typically relaxed. In larger tanks with multiple hiding spots, the impact is more contained. The male occasionally turns on the female outside of breeding, particularly if the pair bond has weakened, which can become dangerous in smaller tanks.
Things to Know
- Pairs bond strongly but may turn on each other if spawning repeatedly fails
- Will hunt and eat dwarf shrimp, even in heavily planted tanks
- Defends breeding territory aggressively, can terrorize smaller tankmates
- Females show vivid purple belly when in spawning condition
- Becomes very territorial and aggressive when breeding.
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