Pelvikachromis pulcher

Aquarium lovers have come to love Pelvikachromis pulcher, also known as the kribensis or just the krib, a vibrant freshwater fish. Its vivid colors and captivating behavior infuse any aquarium with life, making it a top pick for novice and seasoned fishkeepers alike.

This resilient fish, which is native to West African rivers, is well-known for its ability to adjust to a variety of water conditions. When compared to more delicate species, this makes it easier to care for. The peaceful nature of Pelvicachromis pulcher allows it to live in harmony with a wide range of other fish species, bringing diversity to your aquarium.

This species is unique in that it has unusual breeding habits. Often exhibiting remarkable maternal care, from watching over their eggs to shielding their young, kribs are renowned for being exceptional carers. This makes them immensely fascinating to watch in addition to being lovely to look at.

Natural habitat

Pelvicachromis pulcher inhabits small, vegetated bodies of water in the eastern regions of Nigeria, Eastern Benin, and Western Cameroon. a fish with a calm disposition that enjoys calm, stagnant freshwater. Since parrots are known for their endurance and low maintenance, they won’t be bothered by slightly brackish water.

Pelvicachromis pulcher consumes worms and other detritus in the wild, but it has no problem eating fish eggs or larvae. Gnaws green plant leaves occasionally. Fish farms or private aquarists raise the Pelvicachromis pulcher representatives that are sold in pet stores. Furthermore, fish taken from natural reservoirs should not be imported in order to be sold to aquarists later on.

Appearance

In an aquarium, Pelvikachromis pulcher instantly draws the eye; it is hard to ignore this vivid and colorful resident. Fish are small animals; the males grow to a maximum length of 10 cm, while the females, as is typical with fish, are more graceful and smaller, with a maximum body length of 7 cm. However, some people are smaller than others.

The body’s predominant hue is brown. There is a tiny, peculiarly purple patch on the abdomen that stands out sharply against the rest of the color. One characteristic that sets parrots apart is how their moods affect the color saturation of their feathers.

There is a dark line that runs straight through the middle of the body, from nose to tail. During the spawning season, the males’ scales become more vibrant, more saturated, and shimmer with every color of the rainbow. The greatest method for getting women’s attention is this.

The unique structure of the parrot’s head gave rise to its name; its mouth is tiny and gently curved downward, and its forehead is notably steep. The fish’s eyes are blue, with black, well-defined pupils.

Only when they reach sexual maturity does the parrot’s true beauty become apparent. The fry are quite gray and pale, and they are quite unremarkable. Males and females can easily be distinguished from one another. Male parrots have reddish-colored abdomens, with brown back scales and blue-tinted side scales. The dorsal fin is gray with a silver-edged patch on it. The ventral and anal fins are colored blue, and the sternum’s fins are transparent. The tail shimmers silver and resembles a red diamond.

Compared to males, females are slightly larger and slightly smaller. A golden edging line surrounds the dorsal fin. The abdomen has a hint of purple mixed in with the red. The gills have different tones of purple.

The fish’s body is shaped like an elongated oval, with slightly flattened sides. It can be identified by its unique dorsal fin arrangement, which places it very near to the tail. There are pelvicachromis pulcher albinos in the wild. Apart from their distinct appearance, they differ from members of the main species in no other way.

Features of keeping and feeding parrot fish

Even a novice aquarist can start a Pelvicachromis pulcher because they are an entirely unpretentious fish that won’t cause any special problems or difficulties in keeping them. First things first, you must choose the right container. Whether and how many neighbors the parrots have directly affects the aquarium’s volume.

Based on the observation that two parrots will feel at ease in an aquarium with a 40-liter capacity, the ideal size is determined.

You will need a larger tank if there are neighbors. Even though their living conditions are thought to be unpretentious, fish require specific water parameters to be maintained:

• temperature regime – +23° – +28°C;
• pH level – from 6.5 to 7.5, neutral;
• degree of hardness – should not exceed 15°.

The conditions under which the fish resided prior to relocating to a new aquarium must be considered when choosing the ideal water parameters. Since parrots born in the same area are typically already acclimated to specific water parameters, setting up the right environment for them to live comfortably shouldn’t be too difficult. There might be some maintenance issues if the fries were imported from another area or nation.

Since fish like to dig with their noses, it is preferable to use small fractions of sand or gravel as a substrate. Parrots do not specifically harm the aquarium’s vegetation; they are apathetic toward it. Thus, the aquarist’s taste is the only factor considered when choosing plants. Pelvicachromis pulcher does not come into contact with the plants, but it is still advised to plant them in pots because the parrots can occasionally use their noses to dig up soil, which can harm underwater crops’ root systems.

The aquarium should have ornamental fish that act as shelter for Pelvicachromis pulcher so that the fish feel as comfortable as possible and the keeping conditions are as close to the natural habitat as possible. It is advised to arrange jugs, build grottoes out of driftwood, and install locks on the bottom. The aquarium’s corners should be filled with a variety of ornamental shelters.

It is imperative that the tank be covered with a lid because parrotfish, being highly nimble and active fish, can jump out of the water and cause serious injuries or even death.

Lighting ought to be muted, if not modest. Bright light bothers parrots, as it causes them to act overly tense. A system for filtration and aeration is required for the aquarium. You could theoretically live without a filter, but then you’d need to change the water more frequently. Practice demonstrates that the fish’s color intensifies and becomes more saturated when using a filter.

Nutrition

Not only can parrots be easily cared for and kept in specific aquarium conditions, but they also require little in the way of food. Although these aquarium fish are omnivorous, live food is still prioritized because parrots are predatory fish in the wild, despite their small size.

Because they tend to become obese, pelicachromis must be fed according to the prescribed schedule.

Food remnants must be removed from the water’s surface after ten minutes; it is not permitted to leave food in the aquarium.

This will help to keep the aquarium clean for a longer period of time in addition to preventing overeating among the inhabitants.

Fried and live food are fed to parrots. You can also feed them food that has been industrially produced in the form of food tablets, granules, and flakes. For them, the best options are:

• bloodworms;
• daphnia;
• tubifex;
• brine shrimp;
• cyclops.

Aquarists ought to be aware that tubifex is not a good choice for regular feeding. While it is permissible for parrot fish, it is preferable to either never give it at all or very seldom. Furthermore, it is advised to purchase it only from reputable retailers with quality certifications. The fact that tubifex can carry pathogens that cause a variety of diseases in fish helps to explain these recommendations.

Vegetables like cucumbers and zucchini should be regularly fed to parrots in order to support their immune systems and enhance the digestive systems’ efficiency. It won’t be unnecessary to provide them with enriched food. It is advised to feed food containing spirulina.

Since Pelvicachromis pulcher fish are bottom feeders, you must ensure that feeding occurs when enough food settles to the bottom and is not consumed by fish in nearby aquariums. Because of this feeding specificity, it is advised to relocate a pair of parrots to a different tank at the onset of spawning, when the fish will require more nutrition and there are other inhabitants in the aquarium.

For parrots to feel happy and healthy, as well as for their coloring to please with vibrant and saturated colors, they require a varied and balanced diet.

Character of aquarium parrots

Although Pelvicachromis pulcher fish are known for having a relatively calm temperament, it would be inaccurate to describe them as being perfectly tranquil. Until they have to defend their territory, these small fish in the aquarium will not attack their neighbors.

Being owners, parrots will not have their portion of the aquarium bottom invaded. With the exception of the time when they are defending the nest with eggs, females can exhibit aggression to a greater degree than males. The males then turn very hostile toward the other fish in the aquarium.

Slow fish that glide around the aquarium with ease and leisure are not their favorite kind of fish. Because parrots are incredibly fast and nimble fish, they will interestingly eat their tails to get past an obstacle in the form of another aquarium resident swimming smoothly.

The popular and colorful freshwater fish Pelvicachromis pulcher, sometimes referred to as the kribensis or "krib," is a good choice for both novice and seasoned aquarium keepers. Community tanks gain a lively and vibrant touch from this peaceful cichlid due to its striking appearance and relatively easy care requirements. The kribensis is a hardy species that thrives in well-maintained aquariums. It is well-known for its engaging behavior and ability to adapt to a variety of water conditions, making it a favorite among hobbyists looking to add beauty and personality to their tanks.

Best neighbors

While Pelvicachromis pulcher has a generally calm and serene temperament, other fish species cannot coexist peacefully in the same tank as them. To ensure that everyone is happy living in the same common area, you must choose your neighbors carefully. However, in order to demonstrate their strong personalities and whose territory this will become during spawning, the parrots are "deprived" of their aggressiveness.

Pelvicachromis pulcher are agile and hyperactive animals that play for the majority of the day. When an aquarium is overcrowded with fish, the parrots will bite off the fins and tails of their less agile neighbors, causing them to swim more slowly. You shouldn’t be concerned, though, that these little fish will start violent altercations with their neighbors that result in someone getting killed.

The only circumstance in which the parrot truly demonstrates aggression and can valiantly engage in combat, even with its small stature, is when it is defending its breeding territory.

Fish in ornamental aquariums of any kind that share the same tiny size and disposition will make excellent neighbors for Pelvicachromis.

Barbs, Molly, and Swordtails are all excellent neighbors. Shrimps are a popular addition to aquarium inhabitants for aquarists, however keeping pelvicachromis is not advised with them. The parrot will gladly pursue small members of the crustacean family.

This species of parrot for aquariums has many benefits, including beauty, nonchalance, calmness, and lack of aggression. However, one major disadvantage is that parrots will never treat their aquarium neighbors’ eggs and young with contempt. Therefore, it is preferable to keep Pelvicachromis in a separate artificial reservoir in order to preserve the progeny of other aquarium inhabitants.

How does reproduction occur

Breeding Pelvikachromis pulcher in captivity is not too difficult. However, some work will still need to be done in order to consistently produce healthy, mature offspring. Primarily, this pertains to establishing appropriate conditions for spawning.

When the female begins to rummage around the aquarium bottom in search of a better shelter, you can tell that she is ready to breed because she will spend the entire day cleaning it up.

The male starts to show off in front of the female when he notices that she is starting to organize her shelter in preparation for procreation. He dances, plays with his fins, and displays how exquisitely his scales shimmer in the sunlight. If multiple men are vying for the same female, they will square off to establish who is better.

The resulting pair performs mating dances, which last for several days and are used to both prepare their home for spawning and court each other, to announce the start of spawning.

It is sufficient to begin feeding the fish liberally to encourage spawning; however, avoid overfeeding them, as it is very difficult to treat obesity in members of this species. The water’s temperature must be raised by an average of two degrees, but it shouldn’t go above +29°C. In the tank where the parrots will spawn, the water needs to be clean.

Since the parrots can be aggressive toward their aquarium neighbors during the spawning and fertilization stages, it is preferable, if at all possible, to relocate the family pair to a separate tank (the spawning tank).

Specific behavior during spawning

It is enjoyable to watch parrots during spawning. In one of the shelters, a fish pair selects a spot to lay their eggs; this could be a grotto or an ornamental jug. Pelvicachromis carefully prepare a home for future fry as part of their responsible parental duties. Before spawning, the fish will start to meticulously prepare their home a few days in advance. They will use their noses to dig up the soil, remove trash, food remnants, and plants, sweep the soil with their fins, and take the garbage out of the house with their mouths.

It is especially evident during this time how fiercely these fish defend their home. When other fish in the aquarium try to intrude on their territory, they fiercely defend their family nest and will not tolerate it. Males and females alike will be aggressive during this time. It is preferable to relocate the spawning pair to a different tank so as to avoid making the aquarium into a battleground.

The female spawns only in a shelter once the spawning site is ready, helping to shield her young from predator attacks in the future. The female lays 200–300 eggs during spawning. Throughout the four-day incubation period, the male is at the entrance, always prepared to attack if he senses a threat to his young. The female is housed in a shelter close to the eggs.

Fry

Larvae emerge from the eggs at the end of the incubation period and settle to the bottom, where they stay for four to six days. The temperature of the water affects how quickly they develop. The fry will develop quickly enough if the temperature is within +29°C, and after 7 days, they will be able to swim on their own. Only parents are present when the fry make their initial escape from the shelter.

Both parrots carry out their parental responsibilities with care. However, just like with humans, males and females may disagree about how to raise their young, which will show up as conflicts amongst the parrots. There are sadly few exceptions to the rule that the parents take good care of the fry and do not eat the eggs.

It is very difficult to spot Pelvicachromis fry on the aquarium bottom because of their unremarkable and bland appearance. Their body pattern is made up of numerous dots, and their predominant color is gray. This color serves protective purposes, keeping the baby parrots hidden from view by other fish who enjoy hunting other fish. The fry don’t need to be sorted because they swim in flocks and live in groups everywhere.

The fry acquire the bright color that is typical of this species of aquarium fish no sooner than four to five months.

The fry will become highly independent and cease to need their parents’ constant supervision when they reach the size of 5 mm. The pair will be prepared for a fresh spawning by this point. If this species of aquarium fish is bred specifically for reproduction, the parents can be moved to a different tank as soon as the fry reach adulthood to facilitate more offspring reproduction.

Females or males

Expert aquarists believe that it is possible to predict the gender of fish that will be born in the vast majority of cases by setting up specific conditions. Males will outnumber females if the water’s pH is higher in the alkaline range. More acidity will result in a preponderance of female offspring.

Feeding the fry

The fry need to be fed a variety of foods once they can swim independently. The secret to a young pelvicachromis pulcher’s rapid and complete development is good nutrition. Flakes are preferred for feeding during this time; live food may also be given, but it needs to be well ground.

Feed fry for two weeks after birth, preferably "living dust." When the progeny grows a little and becomes more robust after a few weeks, you can feed them brine shrimp or specialized industrial feeds that are rich in vitamins and microelements that are essential for fish development. You must only purchase specialized feed meant for frying.

Incubator

Moving the eggs after the female lays them in an incubator can encourage frequent spawning in pelvikachromis pulchers kept for their active reproduction. The egg-laying pot is very carefully moved to another tank and positioned next to the egg shelter, complete with a sprayer.

The water in the incubator needs to be clean and at least 29 °C. The fry develops during the incubation period and afterward in the same manner as when their parents are present. In an aquarium, a pair of fish that are left without eggs will reach spawning maturity sooner. The fry in the incubator need to be fed as soon as they can swim.

Health and disease

One type of aquarium fish with good physical endurance by nature is Pelvikachromis pulcher. However, if the aquarium’s living conditions are not set up properly, they may also become ill:

1. Fish that lived in another region or even country before purchase will have difficulties during the acclimatization period when changing water, which differs in the content of microelements, hardness and acidity in each area. In order for the aquarium pet to better tolerate new living conditions, it is not recommended to buy too small fish. For purchase, you should choose individuals that have reached a few centimeters in size.
2. Overfeeding and unbalanced nutrition. Pelvikachromis pulcher is prone to obesity and dropsy. These diseases usually occur because the fish are fed too often or the leftover food is not removed from the aquarium after feeding. It is very problematic to cure aquarium parrots from obesity or to relieve them from dropsy, therefore it is better to prevent the occurrence of these pathologies, providing the fish with the correct diet. Pelvicachromis pulcher can be lethargic and apathetic, stop spawning as a result of an incorrectly selected diet. Aquarium pets need to be fed with varied and balanced food, be sure to give them green vegetables at least once a week – zucchini, cucumbers, so that they receive a sufficient amount of vitamins. A meager, monotonous diet will negatively affect the color of the fish: they will be dull, quickly lose their external attractiveness.
3. Violation of lighting. If the light is very bright, the behavior and character of the fish may change, and far from for the better. In bright light, pelvicachromis become nervous, rush around the aquarium, pester and bully their neighbors.

Difficulties and specifics of maintenance

More than two centuries have passed since the Pelvicachromis pulcher fish type was first kept in artificial reservoirs by both expert and amateur aquarists. Compared to other aquarium species, these fish have the advantage of being completely unpretentious in their care. If the fish’s diet and routine are properly balanced and all maintenance requirements are satisfied, they will grow into gorgeous, healthy fish with very little chance of illness.

Despite being known to aquarists for two centuries, this species of aquarium fish may be difficult to acquire because of their excessive decline in popularity in recent times. That’s why it might be hard to find these fish.

One fish will set you back about $1.

It is not permitted to immediately put newly purchased parrots into a shared aquarium, particularly if there are other people waiting to see them. The fish might experience a challenging period of adaptation even if they don’t interact with other underwater residents.

The fish must first be placed in a quarantine tank that meets all the requirements for the water after they are purchased. The parrots will be able to adjust to the new circumstances in a peaceful setting in two weeks. They can be put in a sizable tank with other fish once the adaptation and quarantine period is over.

Pelvicachromis pulcher should be kept in flocks of eight to ten fish, but only if an aquarium with a capacity of eighty to one hundred liters is set aside specifically for this purpose. Aquarium parrots are small birds that prefer to live in the middle of the water column or on the bottom, but they are big on space. The fish will fight with one another if there isn’t enough room in the aquarium because they can’t share the territory among themselves.

Long-term healthy growth and the enjoyment of vibrant, saturated colors by their owners will be made possible by providing the parrots with comfortable surroundings, a roomy tank, and a superior and varied menu.

Photo of Pelvicachromis pulcher

Common Name	Pelvicachromis pulcher (Kribensis)
Scientific Name	Pelvicachromis pulcher
Size	Up to 4 inches (10 cm)
Water Temperature	75-80°F (24-27°C)
pH Level	6.0-8.0
Diet	Omnivore
Temperament	Peaceful but territorial during breeding
Origin	West Africa

The stunning and hardy Pelvicachromis pulcher, also known as the Kribensis, is an excellent choice for cichlid hobbyists with varying degrees of expertise. They are a popular choice for community tanks because of their peaceful nature and vibrant colors.

These fish can survive and even reproduce in captivity with the correct care, which includes a balanced diet, clean water, and an appropriately set up tank. They are well-known for their intriguing parenting style, which makes raising them even more enjoyable.

A rewarding and enjoyable addition to your aquarium can be the Pelvicachromis pulcher, regardless of your level of experience with fishkeeping. They are a genuine favorite among freshwater fish because of their charm and simplicity of maintenance.

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