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Keeping electric blue acara with kribensis in the same aquarium?
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2025 11:21 pm
by mudskip
I had a similar issue in another area with one of my blueline rainbowfish, it was losing color on its back. Turns out the new electric RiverKai (2 in. size) was nipping at its back. Doesn't seem to like blueline rainbowfish, went after another one too. Moving the acara to my 55 gallon with tiger barbs, silvertipped and serpae tetras. There's also a Kribensis and BN pleco in there. Will the Kribensis and acara get along, or should I move the Kribensis to the 125 gallon with the rainbowfish? That tank has Congo tetras, cherry barbs, a pearl gourami, an SAE, large peppered corys, and BNs. I really want the Kribensis to be okay.
Re: Keeping electric blue acara with kribensis in the same aquarium?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 1:01 am
by LenderBender
I think the kribensis will likely harass the pearl gourami and cherry barbs in that 125 gallon tank. The acara's aggressive tendencies will probably increase as it grows, making it a threat to the smaller fish like the Congo tetras and possibly even the SAE.
Re: Keeping electric blue acara with kribensis in the same aquarium?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 1:09 am
by coltin
If there are no other cichlids in the rainbowfish tank, it's probably safer to move the Kribensis to that tank. Moving the acara to the smaller tank with the tiger barbs, silvertipped and serpae tetras seems like the better option, considering the acara's potential for aggression as it grows.
Re: Keeping electric blue acara with kribensis in the same aquarium?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 2:35 am
by barnicle
I've had kribensis and rainbows, plus cherry barbs, in the same tank and they all get along just fine. The gourami sticks to the top, while the kribs claim the bottom as their own, so they don't really interact much. I think they'd be okay together, as long as they've got their own spaces.
Re: Keeping electric blue acara with kribensis in the same aquarium?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 3:51 am
by graye
Both kribs and acaras need a solid base to call their own, and that's where the conflict arises - they'll both claim breeding territory on the bottom of the tank. In their natural habitat, this can span a few square meters. So, their needs clash and the tank becomes a battleground.
Each species requires its own space, and it's up to you to decide how to arrange that. What I do know is that kribs and pulchers need ample room to thrive. The only time they become aggressive towards tankmates is when they're confined to a tank that's too small, especially when they enter breeding mode. In a well-set-up tank, these cichlids will naturally chase other fish out of their breeding territory. However, there are exceptions - like cherry barbs, which occupy a similar niche and tend to congregate near the bottom of the tank.
Re: Keeping electric blue acara with kribensis in the same aquarium?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 6:07 am
by LenderBender
I was wrong, it seems. Thanks for the correction, I appreciate it.
Re: Keeping electric blue acara with kribensis in the same aquarium?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 7:59 am
by graye
LenderBender wrote: ↑Sun Aug 31, 2025 1:01 am
I think the kribensis will likely harass the pearl gourami and cherry barbs in that 125 gallon tank. The acara's aggressive tendencies will probably increase as it grows, making it a threat to the smaller fish like the Congo tetras and possibly even the SAE.
Or maybe you just had a pair of feisty kribs that didn't play by the rules, that can definitely happen.
Re: Keeping electric blue acara with kribensis in the same aquarium?
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2025 9:30 am
by LenderBender
graye wrote: ↑Sun Aug 31, 2025 3:51 am
Both kribs and acaras need a solid base to call their own, and that's where the conflict arises - they'll both claim breeding territory on the bottom of the tank. In their natural habitat, this can span a few square meters. So, their needs clash and the tank becomes a battleground.
Each species requires its own space, and it's up to you to decide how to arrange that. What I do know is that kribs and pulchers need ample room to thrive. The only time they become aggressive towards tankmates is when they're confined to a tank that's too small, especially when they enter breeding mode. In a well-set-up tank, these cichlids will naturally chase other fish out of their breeding territory. However, there are exceptions - like cherry barbs, which occupy a similar niche and tend to congregate near the bottom of the tank.
Just one, I think that's the case.