Blood Parrot and Krib Together?

As some folks on here know, I'm a relative newbie to both this site and to the aquarium hobby, As some folks also know, I'm planning to set up a 55 gallon freshwater semi-aggressive community tank. I'm pretty much ready to go but then last night, when I went to my local fish store to look around and price some things, I was told by one of the employees that I shouldn't put a Blood Parrot and a Krib in the same 55 gallon tank. I had never heard that before, and I've talked to other employees at this same store, and I've talked to some people at another store, too. I've also discussed plans with several people on here, and at no time, other than last night, have I ever gotten the suggestion to not house these two kinds of fish together. I decided to take my question to the forum to get some more opinions before I decide to do this or not do it. Any and all suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

My (hopeful) stocking list: 1 Blood Parrot, 1 Raphael Catfish, 1 Krib, a school (I'm thinking 12, but I'm open to other suggestions as I'm really not sure how big I can make this school with the room I have) of Tiger Barbs.

 

Anders247 will be able to help. he always helps me on all of my stocking questions

I personally think your plan is fine

 

I think it's fine as well. I doubt the two will conflict very much, if at all.

 

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the advice. I thought it should be fine as I've mentioned my stocking plans on here several times, and haven't heard anyone suggesting I may have trouble, but I also want to be able to trust employees at my local fish store, so I figured I'd ask the question!

Anders247, did you give me an opinion on the number of Tiger Barbs that you would suggest I have in my school for this tank? If you already did, I apologize, but could you please let me know your thoughts? I know it may be a very fine line between having a large enough group so they're not too aggressive, but not having so many that I'll be overcrowding the tank! And, incase it matters for what you'll suggest for my stocking levels, I've made a decision about my filters (since I know you were one of the folks suggesting a canister filter to me in one of my other posts). I've decided not to go with a canister at this time, and instead will be using two HOBs. I will use the one that comes with the kit that I'm going to purchase (Aqueon Quiet Flow 55/75), and I plan to use a second (smaller) Quiet Flow (30), too.

 

Yeah, I'd do around 15 TBs.

 

Great! That's what Tyguy originally thought, too. Not that I didn't believe him (he's been great help!), but I didn't want to overstock my tank, since I don't plan to upgrade from the setup I purchase. I don't know if you read it in any of my other posts, but I've made the unfortunate mistake of killing fish in the past due to too small of a tank for what I had (didn't really know it until it was too late), so I want to be sure to not do that ever again. Plus, when I went to, they said I was at 100% stocking with 12.

 

It's always good to have more than one opinion

 

I wouldnt keep a blood parrotwith tiger barbs, I think that's a bigger issue.

 

Plecomaker, why do you say this? I've never heard it before, so I have to ask, are the barbs too aggressive in your opinion, or is the Blood Parrot too aggressive?

 

Plecomaker, why do you say this? I've never heard it before, so I have to ask, are the barbs too aggressive in your opinion, or is the Blood Parrot too aggressive?

oh well neither really.
blood parrots can be challenging to feed though and barbs are chow hounds, youllhave to be watchful that he gets anything to eat,
that's the main prob. But if you're careful it should work out.

 

I had a bp with barbs a few years ago I had the barbs first and they were used to eating flakes when I got the bp I was feeding him cichlid pellets which the barbs ignored for awhile it allowed the bp to eat and get nice and fat the barbs eventually figured out that the pellets were good as well and would eat them but by then the bp was comfortable enough with them to eat along with them

 

Thanks for the info! Although I've heard about the shape of the BP's mouth, I haven't heard about it effecting the way it's fed. So I wouldn't mind hearing more about that.

I plan to stock my barbs first and the BP last. I was thinking about feeding everyone cichlid pellets from the start, unless I come across a reason why I shouldn't.

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I don't think they can bite, so they grind food in their thorat. It works, but its slow compared to other ther fish.

 

Get a BP that's larger than the Barbs. This will allow him to compete for food more easily and don't stress if he fails to eat much the first few days to a week. A hungry fish will eat. Now, if you notice the barbs ganging up on him and attacking, then you have another issue to deal with. There are no hard and fast rules to fish keeping. Fish each have their own temperament. I don't foresee the BP being incompatible with barbs.

 

Thanks l3uckethead, how about the BP and krib, in your opinion?

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I don't like the idea of keeping Kribs with any other cichlids to be honest. They like to hide as it is. Having a large dominant cichlid is only going to cause more shyness.

 

Thanks for your input, MikeRad89. What would you suggest doing with this tank?

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1x kribensis
15x tiger barbs
1x Raphael cat
3x neon blue dwarf gourami (1m2f)

EDIT: scratch that, that's a bad stock on my part. gouramis aren't a good idea.

For an active and fairly aggressive tank here's what Id do:

2x Firemouth Cichlid
10x Tiger Barb
8x BosemanI Rainbowfish
1x Raphael
Is the Krib an absolute must-have? It really limits your stocking options imo.

 

I don't like the idea of keeping Kribs with any other cichlids to be honest. They like to hide as it is. Having a large dominant cichlid is only going to cause more shyness.

I would have to disagree, the kribs I've kept were never very shy. All fish have different personalities.
I have kept kribs with rainbow cichlids, firemouths, and convicts with no issues.

 

I would have to disagree, the kribs I've kept were never very shy. All fish have different personalities.
I have kept kribs with rainbow cichlids, firemouths, and convicts with no issues.

To each their own. Parameter wise there's definitely no issue, I'd just be wary of the behavioral issues.

 

Yeah, I'm not saying it will work all the time. Just have a back-up plan in case it doesn't work out.

 

In a 55 gallon there should be plenty of room for a single BP and krib to stake out there own domain. But there are never any guarantees in fish keeping. If you wanted another small cichlid to go with the bp that want shy you could do a bolivian ram. They are more outgoing but I still don't think it will be much of an issue in a4 foot tank

 

I've never had a BP with kribs but I just wanted to chime in to say my krib was the most outgoing fish in my tank. Always greeted me and followed me around the tank. I'd still consider them if you really want one.

 

Thanks, all! Although I do like most of the fish that were recommended in the one mock stocking list, I think I still like my original list a bit better. As much as I appreciate the suggestion, I'm trying to consider which fish I'd be willing to remove, but I really like all. The blood parrot and the krib are both center pieces of this tank, I think.

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Some people seem to think stillthink this is just aggresion. My point was more about barbs being piggy eaters, not about them hurting the cichlid.
a big group of barbs can gulp a lot of food before a slower large fish can get to it.

if this is a problem, there are alternative feeding styles also. I have a friend who uses a turkey baster for slower fish to drop food in front of them, just as a last resort.

the tricky thing is that parrots aren't really one kind of fish and depending on their lineage may be better or worse at competition.

 

Thanks, Plecomaker! As I research more, I'm hearing a bit more about the different feeding styles of the blood parrots, as well as the variation that exists since they're a hybrid. I'm still interested in them, but definitely something to consider!

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Yeah, theyre are various facial differences, tail differences, and colors that are obvious. Id say the possibility of differing personalities also is pretty high.
I saw one the other day that I didnt even recognize immediately as one.

 

Thanks for the info! I guess I've got to just try this out and hope for the best.

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Thanks for the info! I guess I've got to just try this out and hope for the best.

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might go ahead and buy a baster just in case then. Theyre only like 99 cents at a dollar store.
Probably you're cheapest fishpurchase

 

Indeed! But why did you say I should go that route? Why will a blaster insure the parrot gets enough food?

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You can suck up food and put it directly in front of the parrot, if need be, before barbs can take it.
its just a precaution, and a cheap one.

 

All sounds really good guys, and good luck with your tank. Be sure to upload some photos once u have it all finished!


.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*Riley*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.

 

Will do! Thanks again! Hopefully getting everyone fed won't be a huge issue, but this is good info incase it is tough.

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