Chronicling Kribensis Fry Development

One of my aims while breeding Kribensis, was that I wanted to chronicle their development at regular intervals. Observing the life cycle of any living thing fascinates me.

Newborn fry (approx 2mm in length) -

The fry at one month (approx 6mm in length) -

The New Kribensis Fry

This morning I noticed mummy and daddy kribensis moving gravel under the big green pot in the tank. They were making a tunnel at the back of it going from one side of the pot to the other. Funny as they did exactly the same thing in the first tank...

Another look at the tank a couple of hours later, revealed that today was the day that mummy and daddy kribensis decided to show off their new batch of fry with a cautious excursion from the terracotta pot to their new tunnel under the green pot. This afternoon they ventured to the front of the tank and my son, Joshua, took these incredible first photos of them all. (thanks Josh!!)

I can't believe that it has only been one month since their last batch and I had forgotten just how tiny the babies are. I have probably said this previously, but honestly they look like a moving cloud of dots under mum and dad. So so sweet.

OMG OMG OMG

I noticed that my female Kribensis belly was looking whitish the last couple of days so I just couldn't resist checking... and OMG yep there are tiny gray moving eggs inside the pot!!

Woohoo!!

This time I upended a terracotta pot in their new tank instead of lying in flat to see if that would make a better cave for them - apparently it did as there was no digging and moving gravel this time. ;)

Baby Kribensis - 1 Month On

The baby Kribensis turn one month old today!

The babies are happy, healthy and fending for themselves.

Mum and dad kribensis were relocated to another tank recently, so they can prepare themselves for a new batch of fry, leaving the babies to their own devices. At first it was a big shock to the babies but now they cruise the tank in smaller clutches rather than the previous group formation their parents kept them in.

They are around 6mm in size, compared to 2mm when they first appeared in the tank. Their diet consists of finely crushed flakes, hard boiled egg yolk, baby brine shrimp, micro worms, algae wavers and vegetables.

Click on the pics to see how big they are now ;)

Baby Kribensis - Day 6

The baby kribensis are growing bigger and stronger.

They are happy to cruise the tank with mum and dad hovering over them, searching for food. There is often one straggler that seems content to do his own thing but the parents go back to collect him and herd him closer to the others. I often wonder if it is the same little guy lol

The whole family interacting with each other is truly beautiful to watch.

As always, click on the photos to see how big they are getting for yourself :D

Day 3 of the Kribensis Fry

It is so amazing watching the fry with their parents, they look like a cloud in constant motion.

The parents take them on excursions around the tank looking for food. They stop to eat infusoria from the plants and algae growing on the sides of the tank glass or the pots. I can see why it is important to have an established environment for breeding the Kribensis as the plant infusoria or the algae wouldn't be present for the fry otherwise.

I also have been feeding them cooked egg yolk and a liquid fry food via a turkey baster, which is a little tip I picked up from doing research on the net. The length of the turkey baster ensures the food goes directly to where the fry are gathered - a largish syringe also works well. Just remember to release the food out slowly so not to blast them away lol. The infusoria I have growing in a bucket outside should be ready today or tomorrow so I will be adding that to their menu also.

At present I am feeding the fry four times throughout the day.

Today the parents seem to feel comfortable bringing the fry to the front of the tank on foraging missions, so I can now view them all without having to get too close to the tank. Which of course means great photo opportunities.

Since I knew the kribs were going to be breeding I have them in a tank by themselves, the tank next to theirs has rainbow fish and black widow tetras in it. I find it amusing that when the rainbows and the black widows get to close to the adjoining glass one of the krib parents rushes at the glass to force them back. I had heard that they were fearless in keeping other fish away and apparently that even extends to keeping other fish in other tanks away too! I think it is good for them to have someone to guard against though as it would stop them from getting to complacent.

I have also noticed the last couple of days, that when the parents make quick little jerky movements the fry stay low to the gravel underneath them.

Video of the Kribensis Parents and Their Babies

I love it how doing this blog enables me to learn different things like adding photos and videos - so

here goes a vid of the parents and their babies:

The Proud Parents

The proud kribensis parents showed off their young for the first time this afternoon!

I discovered them all quite by accident while playing with my new digital camera lol - perfect timing or what? :P

I wasn't even sure they had laid their eggs yet - everywhere I read said that she disappears for a week and stays with the eggs - and every day I have seen both of the male and female. But I did notice a few days ago that her tummy looked paler than it had been and that made me wonder...

Anyway here are some pics of mum, dad and the new babies. Seems like there are about 50ish babies. Click on the photos to see the full view.

Mum and dad together with the babies -

Dad with the newborns -
Mum with the newborns -