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Encyclopedia / Cichlids / Kribensis
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Variations

3 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Kribensis

Pelvicachromis pulcher · Krib, Rainbow krib

Territorial when breeding.

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10 cmBody length, without tail ✓
24–27 °CTemperature ✓
5–7.5pH ✓
71 LSmallest tank ✓
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Not recommended
  • Kribensis eats animals up to about 2 cm. Ember tetra only grows to 2 cm.
Not recommended
  • Kribensis eats animals up to about 2 cm. Chili rasbora only grows to 2 cm.
Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Kribensis is tropical.
  • They need different temperatures (24–27 °C vs 14–22 °C). No setting suits both.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 24 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

346 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓0–12 dGH
Group size ✓2 or more
Temperament ✓Semi-aggressive
Swims at ✓Bottom
Care level ✓Easy
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–4 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Territorial when breeding.

  • cave

Food

Pellets, frozen foods.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Male Kribensis
Male
Female Kribensis
Female

Males are larger with pointed dorsal, tail and anal fins. Females are smaller and rounder and show a bright purple-red belly in spawning condition.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Cave spawner · Easy

Monogamous cave spawner; eggs are laid on the roof or wall of a cave. Both parents care for the brood for about 3-4 weeks: the female mainly tends the fry and the male defends the territory. Keep pH near 6.5-7.0, as alkaline water gives mostly male broods.

Pairing

Keep a pair or let a group pair off. They spawn readily.

Setup

A 20 gallon (75 L) tank with a flowerpot or coconut cave, 24-27 C and a sand bottom.

What starts it

Warm water and live foods. The female turns bright purple-red.

Eggs

Usually 40-100 eggs, up to about 300; they hatch in 2-3 days and fry swim freely after 7-8 days.

Raising the fry

Feed baby brine shrimp and microworms. Leave fry with parents until 4-6 weeks, then separate.

Common mistakes
  • Not providing a cave
  • Overly hard water
  • Letting fry grow too crowded
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionWest Africa – Nigeria & Cameroon
Rivers and lakesLower Niger River and coastal rivers
HabitatVegetated, slow-flowing streams
Native rangeAbout 400 km across
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The story of the kribensis

A West African dwarf cichlid from Nigeria and Cameroon that breeds readily in caves; both parents guard the fry, which they herd around as a family. Nearly all aquarium fish are captive-bred. The trade name 'kribensis' comes from an old mistaken scientific name, Pelmatochromis kribensis.

George A. Boulenger described the kribensis in 1901 from West Africa. Its rosy belly and easy breeding made it one of the classic West African cichlids. Pairs spawn in caves and lead their fry around the tank together.

First described by George A. Boulenger in 1901.

  • Females develop a pink-red belly when breeding.
  • It lays eggs in caves.
  • Both parents guard the fry.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources