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Kribensis tank mates

Kribensis: peaceful and shy, 3.9 in, kept in groups of 2 or more, swims in the bottom of the tank and needs about 23 gallons. The list below checks every species in our catalog against it.

Each species is checked against kribensis both ways: mouth size, fin nipping, temperament, territory, water overlap and keeper reports.

Good tank mates

  1. Neon tetra

    Paracheirodon innesi
    Fits

    The classic community fish: a tight school of electric-blue stripes that suits planted tanks of 15 gallons and up.

    1.2 in · 17+ gal · 70–77°F · pH 5–7

  2. Harlequin rasbora

    Trigonostigma heteromorpha
    Fits

    Copper-orange schooling fish with a black wedge; hardy, calm and a good first school for a 15–20 gallon tank.

    1.4 in · 17+ gal · 73–81°F · pH 6–7

  3. Fancy guppy

    Poecilia reticulata
    Fits

    Colourful livebearers with flowing tails; prefer harder water and breed readily, so plan for fry.

    1.4 in · 13+ gal · 75–81°F · pH 7–8

  4. Panda corydoras

    Corydoras panda
    Fits

    Friendly armoured catfish that sift the sand in groups; need soft substrate and a group of six or more.

    1.6 in · 17+ gal · 72–77°F · pH 6–7.2

  5. Otocinclus

    Otocinclus vittatus
    Fits

    Tiny algae grazers for mature planted tanks; keep six or more and supplement with vegetables.

    1.4 in · 17+ gal · 72–79°F · pH 6–7.2

  6. Betta

    Betta splendens
    Fits

    The Siamese fighting fish: one male per tank, warm still water, and no long-finned or nippy tank mates.

    2.8 in · 11+ gal · 72–86°F · pH 6–7.5

  7. Tiger barb

    Puntigrus tetrazona
    Fits

    Bold, fast barbs that nip fins; great in a busy group of ten, a poor match for slow or long-finned fish.

    2.2 in · 32+ gal · 72–79°F · pH 6–7.5

  8. Amano shrimp

    Caridina multidentata
    Fits

    The best-known algae-eating shrimp, made famous by Takashi Amano; bigger than cherries and a good fit for planted community tanks.

    2 in · 7+ gal · 72–77°F · pH 6.5–7.5

  9. Black neon tetra

    Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
    Fits

    A peaceful tetra with a bright white-over-black stripe; hardier than the neon tetra and an easy fit in any calm community tank.

    1.4 in · 23+ gal · 73–81°F · pH 5.5–7.5

  10. Black widow tetra

    Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
    Fits

    A hardy, deep-bodied tetra with black 'skirt' fins; easy for beginners, but a small group nips the fins of its tank mates.

    2.4 in · 22+ gal · 68–79°F · pH 6–7

  11. Blood parrot cichlid

    hybrid
    Fits

    A man-made hybrid cichlid with a round body and a beak-like mouth that barely closes; usually gentle and rarely able to swallow tank mates.

    7.9 in · 36+ gal · 72–82°F · pH 6.5–8

  12. Bristlenose pleco

    Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus
    Fits

    The go-to glass cleaner: a compact 5-inch pleco with bushy whiskers on the males that needs a cave and vegetables, not just algae.

    4.9 in · 17+ gal · 70–79°F · pH 5.5–7.5

  13. Bronze cory

    Corydoras aeneus
    Fits

    The most widely kept cory: a tough bronze-green or albino catfish that shoals along the bottom and handles a broad range of water.

    3 in · 23+ gal · 70–81°F · pH 6–8

  14. Cardinal tetra

    Paracheirodon axelrodi
    Fits

    The neon's close cousin, with red running the full length of the belly; a soft, acidic-water schooling fish that likes it warmer than neons.

    1.4 in · 17+ gal · 73–81°F · pH 4–6

  15. Cherry barb

    Puntius titteya
    Fits

    One of the most peaceful barbs: males glow cherry red and leave fins alone, making it great for planted community tanks.

    2 in · 17+ gal · 73–81°F · pH 6–8

  16. Common pleco

    Pterygoplichthys pardalis
    Fits

    The classic store 'algae eater' that grows to nearly two feet, fouls the water and eats less algae with age; a fish for very large tanks only.

    22.8 in · 203+ gal · 77–82°F · pH 7–7.5

  17. Discus

    Symphysodon aequifasciatus (species complex)
    Fits

    The 'king of the aquarium': a disc-shaped Amazon cichlid in countless bred colours that needs warm, soft, very clean water.

    5.5 in · 80+ gal · 79–86°F · pH 5–7

  18. Dwarf gourami

    Trichogaster lalius
    Fits

    A bright little gourami popular with beginners; one male per tank, no bettas, and buy carefully, as imported fish often carry an incurable iridovirus.

    3 in · 18+ gal · 72–81°F · pH 6–7.5

  19. Glowlight tetra

    Hemigrammus erythrozonus
    Fits

    A small, translucent tetra with a glowing orange stripe along its body; peaceful, hardy and at its best in a densely planted tank.

    1.6 in · 22+ gal · 75–82°F · pH 6–7.5

  20. Honey gourami

    Trichogaster chuna
    Fits

    A small, very gentle honey-coloured gourami for calm tanks of 15 gallons with peaceful tank mates.

    2.2 in · 17+ gal · 72–81°F · pH 6–7.5

  21. Kuhli loach

    Pangio semicincta
    Fits

    A banded, eel-like loach of about 4 inches that burrows by day and explores the bottom as a group in the evening; needs soft sand.

    3.9 in · 17+ gal · 70–79°F · pH 3.5–7

  22. Leopard sailfin pleco

    Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
    Fits

    A tall-finned pleco with a brocade pattern that is sold at 2 inches and grows to about 20, needing a very large tank and heavy filtration.

    19.7 in · 187+ gal · 77–86°F · pH 5–7

  23. Molly

    Poecilia sphenops
    Fits

    A sturdy livebearer that needs hard water and plenty of plant food, and does well in slightly brackish conditions.

    3.1 in · 26+ gal · 70–82°F · pH 7–8.5

  24. Multies

    Neolamprologus multifasciatus
    Fits

    The smallest Tanganyika cichlid, about 2 inches, living in empty snail shells; a colony carves the sand into tiny fiercely guarded plots.

    1.8 in · 13+ gal · 77–80°F · pH 8–8.5

And 59 more in the species catalog.

Risky

  1. Cherry shrimp

    Neocaridina davidi
    With care

    Shrimplets get eaten.

    1.6 in · 4+ gal · 72–75°F · pH 6.5–7.8

  2. Angelfish

    Pterophyllum scalare
    With care

    Angelfish eats small fish: Kribensis.

    3.5 in · 32+ gal · 77–84°F · pH 6–7

  3. Chinese algae eater

    Gyrinocheilus aymonieri
    With care

    Chinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Kribensis.

    11 in · 95+ gal · 72–79°F · pH 6–8

  4. Clown loach

    Chromobotia macracanthus
    With care

    Clown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Kribensis.

    15.7 in · 202+ gal · 75–86°F · pH 5–7

  5. Convict cichlid

    Amatitlania nigrofasciata
    With care

    Convict cichlid eats small fish: Kribensis (PROP).

    5.9 in · 34+ gal · 75–82°F · pH 7–8

  6. Demasoni

    Chindongo demasoni (syn. Pseudotropheus demasoni)
    With care

    Demasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Kribensis.

    3 in · 64+ gal · 75–82°F · pH 8.2–8.5

  7. Fairy cichlid

    Neolamprologus brichardi
    With care

    Two territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 5850 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².

    3.5 in · 34+ gal · 73–79°F · pH 8–9

  8. Firemouth cichlid

    Thorichthys meeki
    With care

    Two territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 5850 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².

    4.7 in · 34+ gal · 75–82°F · pH 6.5–8.5

  9. Golden mbuna

    Melanochromis auratus
    With care

    Golden mbuna attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Kribensis.

    4.3 in · 64+ gal · 75–82°F · pH 7.6–8.8

  10. Goldfish

    Carassius auratus
    With care

    Goldfish eats small fish: Kribensis (RSPCA: соседи должны быть крупнее пасти).

    5.9 in · 24+ gal · 50–75°F · pH 6.5–8

  11. Jewel cichlid

    Rubricatochromis bimaculatus (syn. Hemichromis bimaculatus)
    With care

    Two territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 5850 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².

    5.9 in · 34+ gal · 72–82°F · pH 6–7.8

  12. Peacock cichlid

    Aulonocara jacobfreibergi
    With care

    Malawi butterfly peacock attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Kribensis.

    6.7 in · 135+ gal · 77–84°F · pH 7.5–9

And 25 more in the species catalog.

Avoid

  1. Blue dolphin cichlid

    Cyrtocara moorii
    Avoid

    Blue dolphin cichlid can eat Kribensis: prey body depth 2.2 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.

    9.8 in · 80+ gal · 77–81°F · pH 8–8.5

  2. Iridescent shark

    Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
    Avoid

    Iridescent shark can eat Kribensis: prey body depth 2.2 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.

    51.2 in · 4532+ gal · 72–79°F · pH 6.5–7.5

  3. Oscar

    Astronotus ocellatus
    Avoid

    Oscar can eat Kribensis: prey body depth 2.2 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.

    13.8 in · 168+ gal · 72–77°F · pH 6–7.5

  4. African clawed frog

    Xenopus laevis
    Avoid

    African clawed frog eats small fish: Kribensis (ест всё, что влезает в рот, включая рыб своего размера).

    5.9 in · 13+ gal · 63–75°F · pH 6.8–7.8

  5. Marbled crayfish

    Procambarus virginalis
    Avoid

    Marbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.

    3.9 in · 19+ gal · 64–77°F · pH 7–8

  6. Axolotl

    Ambystoma mexicanum
    Avoid

    Axolotl can eat Kribensis: prey body depth 2.2 cm ≤ mouth 7.5 cm.

    9.8 in · 13+ gal · 57–68°F · pH 6.5–8

  7. Bala shark

    Balantiocheilos melanopterus
    Avoid

    Silver shark can eat Kribensis: prey body depth 2.2 cm ≤ mouth 8.8 cm.

    13.8 in · 269+ gal · 72–82°F · pH 6–8

  8. Black ghost knifefish

    Apteronotus albifrons
    Avoid

    Black ghost knifefish can eat Kribensis: prey body depth 2.2 cm ≤ mouth 10.0 cm.

    19.7 in · 202+ gal · 73–82°F · pH 6–8

  9. Crystal red shrimp

    Caridina logemanni
    Avoid

    Crystal red shrimp should only be kept in a single-species tank.

    1.2 in · 6+ gal · 68–77°F · pH 5.5–7

  10. Flowerhorn cichlid

    hybrid
    Avoid

    Flowerhorn cichlid can eat Kribensis: prey body depth 2.2 cm ≤ mouth 7.2 cm.

    11.8 in · 202+ gal · 77–86°F · pH 6.5–8

  11. Jaguar cichlid

    Parachromis managuensis
    Avoid

    Jaguar cichlid can eat Kribensis: prey body depth 2.2 cm ≤ mouth 17.6 cm.

    21.7 in · 202+ gal · 75–86°F · pH 7–8

  12. Pea puffer

    Carinotetraodon travancoricus
    Avoid

    Pea puffer should only be kept in a single-species tank.

    1 in · 5+ gal · 72–82°F · pH 6.8–8

And 17 more in the species catalog.

Every tank is different. Set yours up once (size, water, who already lives there) and each species is checked against it.

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