Cichlids · Pelvicachromis

Kribensis

Pelvicachromis pulcher · Coastal rivers of Nigeria and Cameroon

Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Kribensis (Pelvicachromis pulcher) is a freshwater fish from Coastal rivers of Nigeria and Cameroon, where it lives in river habitat. Adults reach about 10 cm (3.9 in). Keep it at 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) and pH 5–7.5, in calm water. It is territorial and does best in a group of 2 or more. It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

At a glance

Water temperature

24–27 °C 75–81 °F

5–7.5 soft, acidic water

Adult size

10 cm 3.9 in

Swims ≈

Bottom and mid-water mostly on the floor and in caves

Keep together

2 or more a shoal feels safe

Current

Calm still or slow water

Food

Eats most foods

Temperament

Territorial

Where it comes from

Home water

Coastal rivers of Nigeria and Cameroon

Lives in river habitat.

Shaded: the countries it comes from. Map: Natural Earth.

Kribensis

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Cichlids · PelvicachromisLC

Kribensis

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Coastal rivers of Nigeria and Cameroon · river

Temperature: 24–27°C
pH: 5–7.5
Adult size: 4 in · 10 cm
Flow: Calm
Swims: Bottom and mid-water
Temperament: Territorial
Diet: Omnivore
Group: 2+
Typical price: $8–15
Status in the wild: Least concern

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Photo: NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0

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Sources

We name everyone whose work is on this page. Where sources disagree, we show the best one: a scientific paper first, then aquarium references.

Temperature, ph, adult size, water flow, group size, temperament, diet, home range, swim level Seriously Fish: Pelvicachromis pulcher profile Website
Conservation status, adult size, diet, group size, home range, ph, swim level, temperature FishBase: Pelvicachromis pulcher summary Website Says: pH 5–?; 24–? °C
Photo NasserHalaweh, CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons
Map of rivers and countries Natural Earth public domain map data Map

Not checked yet: habitat, price. These are our own estimates from typical hobby ranges. We haven't checked them against a published source yet.

Know a good source for this fish? Tell us

Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with low flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

Good together

Keep apart

Aggressive and will eat the kribensis

Dovii Flowerhorn Green terror Midas cichlid Red devil
Will eat the kribensis

Oscar Peacock bass
Need a different pH

Acei

In the hobby

Where to find it

No store or breeder we know of has it right now.

Run a store? List the fish you usually have. Breed fish? List your fry.

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Kribensis get?

About 10 cm (3.9 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Kribensis need?

24–27 °C (75–81 °F).

What pH does a Kribensis need?

pH 5–7.5.

Does a Kribensis need to be kept in a group?

Yes. Keep at least 2.

Is the Kribensis aggressive?

It is territorial. Give it its own cave or space.

What does a Kribensis eat?

It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

Where does the Kribensis come from?

Coastal rivers of Nigeria and Cameroon.

What fish can live with a Kribensis?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Leopard frog (L134), Agassiz's dwarf cichlid, Amano shrimp, Bolivian ram.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	24	Sourced
Temperature max (°C)	27	Sourced
pH min	5	Sourced
pH max	7.5	Sourced
Adult size (cm)	10	Sourced
Flow	Low	Sourced
Habitat	river	Estimate
Smallest happy group	2	Sourced
Temperament	Territorial	Sourced
Diet	Omnivore	Sourced
Typical price min (CAD)	8	Estimate
Typical price max (CAD)	15	Estimate

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.