Help!!! Krib Abuse!

[betaboi]

HELP! I just bought 2 kribensis both about 2" from head to tail and they are 1 male and one female (very easy to tell the difference) in my 20gal almost alone (since i left on vacation my "caretaker" left my fish to starve!). Now for those of you who saw my overstalked tank before you must be releived but i still haven't forgiven him!!:mad: Anyway, the male is a tiny bit bigger about one to two sixteenths of an inch larger but won't leave the female be! When i first brought them home the two always swam together through the tank (like in the store) but then i noticed the male flaring and rippling his fins at the female and bending his body (which i read is what they do to enduce breeding). Sadly enogh the female 'rejected' him (this is where it turns into a hollywood movie). Then about three days later the female starts following him as if she wants him to take her back!?! It was then that the domestic violence started. The male chased and still chases her from one end of the tank too the other and into a cave where he swims away but sometimes continues until she leaves the bottom. As i am typing this she is being chased!:( Mind you the male has beautiful vibrant colours as if breeding but the female barely has a tinge of pink on her belly.:confused: What's going on here? Are she not mature enough to breed???

Replies and help needed ASAP!!! thanx. Hurry!:HP

[aquak]

I don't know about these fish, but they might need more room than a 20 gallon. Here is a site that you might find helpful:

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:woKlnzntMLkJ:www.justbajan.com/pets/fish/species/krebensis/+kribensis&hl=en

Among other things, it says they should be alone if in a smaller tank. I think they may be stressed by being crowded, but you may be able to help them with more hiding places.

[betaboi]

I jst read that increasing the water temp will induce spawning. Should i try this? I figure it might cause them to pair up in order to breed. Any comments appreciated.

[aquak]

I doubt that they will spawn if they are stressed out. Have you researched their mating behaviors? If what you describe isn't mating behavior, then they are probably stressed.

[betaboi]

YAY!:D Finally I've done something half decent in this hobby!
Here's what i did. I went to another store (same town) and bought their kribensis. Now you might think that that is crazy but read on and you might change your mind. These fish are larger (about 1/4" larger (female) and 1/2" larger (male)). Anyway i closely examined them and it turns out i had bought two false kribs :mad: (the first two purchased). Here are some things to look for so you don't do what i have:

1) Both males and female have yelow faces extending no further than the back of their gills.

2)Check the horizontal black line on their sides. It is usually faded near the middle on real african kribs as apposed to the false genus on which the line is a deep black all along.

3) Never, ever, ever, ever, ever buy a krib that is less than 2 inches or even a group of kribs.

4)Males do not always have this but if you happen to see a male with an "eye" or black dot on it's caudle fin, there should be a diagonal line above it going downwards toward the tip. If this line is orange then the krib is of a false genus.

Now, if you infact want to breed a false kribensis, then be my guest. In fact, i read that there is a type that will allow the first born batch to help care for the second (family help).

Bonus for me because i bought a pair that has a gravid female!:rolleyes: They have now chosen a cave too, it is beneath my motion clam (they dont seem to mind it opening and closing). Plus since i have added the new guys the false kribensis have formed a pair!:eek: This was a huge shock for me because now when they both breed i will have about 100-200babies on my hands.:EM To decrease this number i will give the runts to my beta. Well, thanx for all the help aquak! I'll make a new thread to kepp yall updated on my progress in raising baby kribs (though the parents should be doing most). Buh, bye!
(P.S. I got a java fern too!)
Have a nice march break!