Kribensis

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Females blush a vivid cherry-purple when ready to spawn. Kribs dig caves and raise their fry together.

A semi-aggressive freshwater fish that grows to 9 cm, lives near the bottom and needs 23–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.8 and an aquarium of at least 60 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

23–28 °C (73–82 °F)

pH

6.0–7.8

Adult size

9 cm (3.5 in)

Aquarium

60 L or bigger (16 US gal)

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Bottom

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Coastal Nigeria & Cameroon

Good to know

• Territorial. Fights other territorial fish in its zone, especially in small tanks.
• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Cherry Barb, Dwarf Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Fancy Guppy, Glowlight Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Honey Gourami.

Will eat: Celestial Pearl Danio, Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Ember Tetra, Endler's Livebearer, Neocaridina Shrimp, Pea Puffer.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Flowerhorn, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Fights with: Black Ghost Knifefish, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, German Blue Ram, Red-Tailed Black Shark, Sunshine Peacock Cichlid.

Attacks: Corydoras, Otocinclus, Zebra Pleco.

Attacked by: Demasoni Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey.

Eats the newborn fry of: Angelfish, Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Cardinal Tetra, Cherry Barb, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Congo Tetra, Corydoras, Demasoni Cichlid, Discus and 25 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Axolotl, Bala Shark, Betta, Black Ghost Knifefish, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Congo Tetra, Discus, Dwarf Gourami, Electric Blue Acara and 12 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Classic uncommon

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.4 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.