Weather Loaches & Kribs

[Spyder]

I have a 180 gallon that that has 3 Weather Loaches that range between 7" & 10" long. I've had them for four years.

I have a 75 gallon tank with a pair of 3 1/2 year old Kribs. I've been spawning the Kribs for 3 years.

I want to take down the 75 and move the Kribs to my 180. I am concerned about the well being of the Waether Loaches. Has anyone kept these two species together with or without success?

I have taken their siblings and put them into the 180 with no problems but they were never a breeding pair. I know Kribs can be very defensive toward their territory and fry but can a Weather Loach handle any aggression like this?

Thank you for any suggestions,

Michael

[Hurricane Charlie]

Yes I have kept Kribs in the same tank as Weather Loaches. I think thats the reason I never had to worry about scooping out any Krib Fry. I kept kribs with six weather loaches. One wather loach grew to be about 9 inches, ther others all seemed to stop or slow down greatly around 5-6 inches. I never noticed any problems with the kribs and weather loaches. I have kept several spawning pairs of kribs and never really noticed any of them doing anything serious to any species as far as aggression.

However you and I have obviously kept weather loaches in warmer water just fine, but everybody here will complain to you that your weather loaches won't be ok in water warm enough for kribs.

[Spyder]

I keep my 180 at 74 degrees. The Kribs may not spawn much at that low a temp but I'm not concerned about spawning them any more, I just want them to live out their lives peacefully. I've gotten over 400 Kribs sold from this pair, that's enough. I know the Weather Loaches would be better off at a lower temp but looking at their size and how well they are doing they seem good. I thought about selling them because of temp but I could never bring myself to do it, I like them too much.

[Emma Turner]

Charlie, the temperature requirement for Kribensis is on the extreme high side of the Weather Loaches range. It's not a case of 'getting away with it', you should consider what is best for the fish, not you. Weather Loaches have evolved to live in cooler temperatures which can be seen from their natural distribution range. They will do better long-term at lower temperatures, and that is a fact. Forcing them to live in unnaturally high temperatures can cause them undue stress and bring about all sorts of health problems.

Personally Michael, I'd either make room for two separate tanks or re-home the Kribs with a fishkeeping friend or a local store that you trust.

Emma

[Graeme Robson]

I agree with Emma. Your basically shortening the life span of the Weather loaches. Not very good fishkeeping at all.

And Charlie! You know fine well that if people posted about keeping Kribs in cold waters on a Krib web-site, this would only be known as Troll Behavior.

Don't become It!

[angelfish83]

I don't think you should mix Kribs with a cold water fish. Kribs become noticeably unhappy below 78 and downright upset and colorless around 74. Just not a good idea.

[Hurricane Charlie]

What do you guys consider cold water? When I kept kribs in a tank with weatherloaches, I kept the water around 70-72. They acted normal, were just as colorful as they ever were, and I'm pretty sure they continuted to try and spawn. But thankfully the loaches, and others I'm sure helped keep the fry from growing. I mean, there are only so many LFSs around here and they can only sell so many kribs

Even when I kepth them in a 20 gallon for breeding I never kept them anywhere near 78, more around 74-75.

[angelfish83]

Well whatever works for you then I guess...
Most people have found otherwise though. And I've never seen a Krib act normal at anything below 74 75 personally. They act quite frightened and screwy IME...

[Hurricane Charlie]

You think fish really can tell a difference in 72 and 75? Maybe some of them, but Kribs and weather loaches? Two of the easiest to keep and hardier fish of their variety?