Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hey all, just got my second 55 gallon set up and I'm considering kribs. Tank's got sand substrate, will be heavily planted, and has a 300 watt heater and Penguin 300 filter. Jump started the cycle with mature media from my other tank, so it should be fully cycled in a few days. Ammonia went from 4 ppm to 0.5 ppm in 12 hours, 0 nitrite, and 5 nitrate.

Tank specs:
55 gallon (48"x13"x20")
Penguin 300 filter with new filter sponges, two bio wheels, and ceramic rings to come
300 watt heater at 82 degrees
1.5" play sand substrate

Planting:
Moneywort
Penny wort
Ludwigia repens
Grass type
Zorchzon sword (still need to pick up)
Anubias nana (still need to pick up)

We're thinking of getting four common kribs, and we also have a golden gourami that came with the tank, currently in a five gallon until the tank's fully cycled. We rescued him from someone who didn't know what they were doing.

Our fish list so far:
4 common kribs
8 panda corydoras
8-10 pencil fish
1 golden gourami
4 nerite snails

Will this stocking work out, or will the kribs harass the other fish? We'll have plenty of caves, but what other hiding spots might they need? Any other fish suggestions?

Here's the tank:

I think there's a potential issue with the stocking plan, especially if the kribs end up spawning. If a pair decides to claim one side of the tank and another pair claims the other, it could leave the other fish, like the panda corydoras and pencil fish, with very limited space to swim safely. Kribs are known to be pretty aggressive when it comes to defending their territory, especially if they have fry to protect.

I think it'll be fine, but keep an eye on those plants.

nerdy_9 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 06, 2025 3:34 am I think it'll be fine, but keep an eye on those plants.

I think the setup will work out fine, but be cautious with the plants, they might get damaged.

Aurora7 said: The stocking wont work well if either of the pairs have fry they will protect their area at all cost. So if one pair takes one side and the other pair the other side the fish in the middle have a very limited space they can safely occupy.

Would this be a concern for all tankmates or just those at the same level as the kribs? Any stocking suggestions you'd recommend?

I'd say stick with one pair of kribs. I've got experience with them in my 76-gallon community tank, and I can attest to how fiercely they defend their territory when breeding. If both pairs have fry, it's gonna get tight in there. As Aurora7 pointed out, it could get ugly.

My suggestion would be to have one pair of kribs for the bottom, a few smaller tetras for mid-water, and maybe some dwarf gouramis for the top. Keep the fish numbers down, and the kribs will be happier and have space to breed.

We've got a golden gourami already, but we're actually looking to rehome him. I only included him in the stocking in case we couldn't find another home for him. I picked pencil fish thinking they might be safe from the gourami. We did some research on, you know, that one website, and it was warning us about kribs getting aggressive during breeding and the gourami's temperament. We use that site just to get some general ideas about stocking.

So, not even a few cories would work, even with just one pair of kribs? Are kribs more territorial than rams, or is that just a myth?

I've had Kribs and Gouramis cohabiting in my 288l tank without any issues. The Kribs stick to the bottom, while the Gouramis claim the upper levels as their own.

I've also got a school of 7 corys, and although the Kribs do chase them off when they get too close to their territory, they generally coexist peacefully.

As for Rams, I've never kept them, so I couldn't say how they compare to Kribs in terms of territorial behavior. However, I've had Kribs for years and they've been relatively trouble-free.

To ensure harmony, I'd recommend adding a couple of caves - one at each end of the tank - to give the Kribs a choice of hiding places. As for the corys, I think it's best to keep them in a group of at least 5, as they seem to thrive in larger numbers.

Considering the gourami's temperament and our kribs' potential territorial behavior, I'm looking for a schooling fish that can coexist with both. If we can't find a new home for our gourami, I'm a bit concerned that smaller tetras might become his target. Are there any mid-water swimmers that can handle his attitude and not get harassed by the kribs when they're defending their territory? We're thinking of getting 6-10 cories, but I'm also open to other suggestions that might work better in this setup.

A 55-gallon tank, no matter the dimensions, is still a confined space for Kribs to wreak havoc when they're breeding. Those Panda Corydoras, they're doomed if they stray into the wrong zone - the Krib fry will be bouncing around, and the parents will be on high alert.

Pencilfish, on the other hand, are a safer choice, but only because they're not a threat to the Krib fry. Still, if they get caught by the parents, they're done for. And let's not forget the gourami - it might see the fry as a snack, and it won't take much for the Kribs to turn on it.

I've learned from my experience with African Steatocranus/Blockhead Cichlids that even the most timid fish can turn into killing machines when they're breeding. Kribs are no exception - they breed frequently, and when they do, they're fiercely protective of their young. I've lost some decent-sized fish to my Blockheads, including Golden Wonder Panchax, African Butterfly Fish, and Humphead Glassfish. You need to be extremely cautious about who you pair with Kribs, especially when they're breeding, and keep a close eye out for signs of new fry.

I was thinking, would having just two female kribs be a way to avoid the whole breeding issue, since we're not really interested in keeping fry.