Kribensis Tank Mates
Short answer: the best kribensis tank mates are Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Molly, Platy, Tiger barb. Kribensis need 75–81 °F (24–27 °C), pH 5–7.5 and at least 30 gallons.
Kribensis care at a glance
| Adult size | 3.9 in (10 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 30 US gallons |
| Temperature | 75–81 °F (24–27 °C) |
| pH | 5–7.5 |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Swims in | Bottom |
| Group size | Can be kept singly or in pairs |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (20)
⚠️ Possible with caution (25)
- Bristlenose pleco — Kribensis defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase bristlenose pleco.
- Harlequin rasbora — Kribensis is a much larger territorial fish and may bully harlequin rasbora.
- Neon tetra — Very narrow shared temperature range: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs Neon tetra 21–25 °C (70–77 °F).
- Nerite snail — Very narrow shared temperature range: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs Nerite snail 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Endler's livebearer — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller Endler's livebearer (3 cm), especially at night.
- Otocinclus — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller otocinclus (4 cm), especially at night.
- Panda cory — Very narrow shared temperature range: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs Panda cory 22–25 °C (72–77 °F).
- Bronze cory — Kribensis defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase bronze cory.
- Cardinal tetra — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller cardinal tetra (3.5 cm), especially at night.
- Cherry barb — Kribensis is a much larger territorial fish and may bully cherry barb.
- Glowlight tetra — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller glowlight tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Kuhli loach — Kribensis defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase kuhli loach.
- Rummy nose tetra — Kribensis is a much larger territorial fish and may bully rummy nose tetra.
- Serpae tetra — Kribensis is a much larger territorial fish and may bully serpae tetra.
- Zebra danio — Very narrow shared temperature range: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs Zebra danio 18–25 °C (64–77 °F).
- Discus — Very narrow shared temperature range: Discus 26–30 °C (79–86 °F) vs Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F).
- Clown loach — Kribensis defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase clown loach.
- Pygmy cory — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller pygmy cory (3 cm), especially at night.
- Sparkling gourami — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller sparkling gourami (4 cm), especially at night.
- Black neon tetra — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) may try to eat smaller black neon tetra (4 cm), especially at night.
- Lemon tetra — Kribensis is a much larger territorial fish and may bully lemon tetra.
- Sterbai cory — Kribensis defends a territory near the bottom (especially when breeding) and may chase sterbai cory.
- X-ray tetra — Kribensis is a much larger territorial fish and may bully X-ray tetra.
- Odessa barb — Very narrow shared temperature range: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs Odessa barb 16–25 °C (61–77 °F).
- Bala shark — An adult bala shark (up to 35 cm) may try to eat smaller kribensis (10 cm), especially at night.
❌ Not recommended (26)
- Cherry shrimp — Kribensis will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
- Fancy goldfish — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Fancy goldfish 20–23 °C (68–73 °F) vs Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F).
- Oscar — An adult oscar (up to 35 cm) is big enough to eat kribensis (10 cm).
- Pea puffer — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Amano shrimp — Kribensis will hunt and eat Amano shrimp.
- Celestial pearl danio — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) is big enough to eat celestial pearl danio (2.5 cm).
- Chili rasbora — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Ember tetra — An adult kribensis (up to 10 cm) is big enough to eat ember tetra (2 cm).
- German blue ram — No comfortable shared temperature: German blue ram 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F).
- White cloud mountain minnow — Coldwater and tropical fish don't mix: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs White cloud mountain minnow 14–22 °C (57–72 °F).
- Electric yellow cichlid — Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid: it needs hard, alkaline water and an African-cichlid community, and is too boisterous for kribensis.
- Rainbow shark — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Red tail shark — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Siamese algae eater — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Common pleco — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Paradise fish — No comfortable shared temperature: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs Paradise fish 10–22 °C (50–72 °F).
- Peppered cory — No comfortable shared temperature: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs Peppered cory 20–24 °C (68–75 °F).
- Convict cichlid — Convict cichlid is aggressive and much larger than kribensis; it will bully or injure it.
- Gold barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Gold barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F) vs Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F).
- Rosy barb — No comfortable shared temperature: Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) vs Rosy barb 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).
- Firemouth cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — No comfortable shared temperature: Boesemani rainbowfish 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) vs Kribensis 24–27 °C (75–81 °F).
- Bolivian ram — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Chinese algae eater — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Jack Dempsey — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat kribensis (10 cm).
How many kribensis per tank?
40 gal 55 gal 75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with kribensis?
Good matches include Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Molly, Platy, Tiger barb. They share a temperature range with kribensis (75–81 °F (24–27 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with kribensis?
Avoid Cherry shrimp, Fancy goldfish, Oscar, Pea puffer, Amano shrimp, Celestial pearl danio.
What size tank do kribensis need?
We recommend at least 30 US gallons for one kribensis, more if you add tank mates.
Can kribensis live alone?
Yes. Kribensis do not need a group, though they can be kept with compatible tank mates.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.