Kribensis Cichlid

A dwarf cichlid, the kribensis is a colorful fish that's easy to care for. Its Latin name translates to "fish with a beautiful belly." During the spawning season, the female sports a brilliant, cherry-red colored belly. Kribensis fish originate in the African waters of southern Nigeria and the coastal areas of Cameroon. They prefer shallow water with thick vegetation but are tolerant of many different levels of water hardness.

Family: Cichlidae
Origin: Africa
Social: Peaceful
Tank Level: Bottom dweller
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallon
Diet: Omnivore, eats most foods
Breeding: Egglayer
Care: Easy
pH: 6.5-7.0
Hardness: 8 to 12 dGH
Temperature: 75 to 77 F (24 to 25 C)

Although they are a peaceful fish, they may nip the fins of slow-moving fish such as angelfish. If other cichlids are to live in the tank, choose a species that is not bottom-dwelling so they won't compete for the same territory. Avoid keeping them with another cave-dwelling species, as kribensis are territorial about caves.

Kribensis are omnivorous and will accept flake or pellet foods, frozen brine shrimp, freshly hatched brine shrimp, daphnia, mosquito larvae, bloodworms, and even vegetables such as zucchini. To maintain their good health, feed them a variety of foods. They are bottom dwellers, so provide some foods that will sink, such as sinking pellets. When conditioning fish prior to breeding, provide plenty of live foods.