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Common Krib Gold-Albin (Pelvicachromis pulcher gold-albino)
24–27°C · pH 5.5–7.5 · 80L
£13.99
One live, unsexed Albino Red Kribensis (Pelvicachromis pulcher) in the selected approximate size. A pale gold, cave-oriented West African dwarf cichlid with Multi-Buy Pricing.
Pelvicachromis pulcher
Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
One live, unsexed Albino Red Kribensis (Pelvicachromis pulcher) in the selected approximate size. A pale gold, cave-oriented West African dwarf cichlid with Multi-Buy Pricing.
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Each selected quantity supplies one live, unsexed Albino Red Kribensis in the approximate size chosen from the selector. This pale gold domestic form of Pelvicachromis pulcher has the compact build, cave-focused behaviour and alert personality associated with the Rainbow Kribensis. Red eyes, a warm cream-to-yellow body, dark fin markings and a pink or reddish belly can all be visible, but colour and pattern vary naturally between individuals.
This is a small cichlid with much more character than its size suggests. It spends time around the lower and middle levels, learns the shape of its territory and often investigates caves, wood and feeding areas closely. It can suit a carefully planned community, yet it should never be treated as a completely passive community fish: an established territory or breeding attempt can make even a normally settled fish defensive.
Multi-Buy Pricing is quantity pricing, not a pair promise. The price display may show tiers for 1 fish, 2 fish and 4+ fish. Every unit remains one unsexed fish. Ordering two does not guarantee one male and one female, compatibility, bonding or breeding, and the gallery scene containing two fish does not change what is supplied.
| At a glance | Albino Red Kribensis guidance |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pelvicachromis pulcher |
| Family | Cichlidae |
| Trade form | Albino Red Kribensis |
| Order unit | One live, unsexed fish in the selected approximate size |
| Available size labels | Approximately 4-5 cm or 6-7 cm; live availability varies |
| Published maximum length | 11 cm total length in FishBase |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive; territorial around caves and breeding sites |
| Tank region | Lower to middle levels |
| Practical water target | 24-26 C, pH 5.5-7.5, 5-15 dGH |
| Minimum planning baseline | At least 80 cm aquarium length with mature filtration and structured floor space |
| Diet | Varied omnivore |
Quantity one means one fish. Quantity two means two unsexed fish. Quantity four means four unsexed fish. This wording matters because Kribensis are often discussed as pairs in care literature, while ordinary retail fish cannot be promised as a compatible male-and-female pair simply because two are ordered.
Select either the approximately 4-5 cm or 6-7 cm option when it is available. Fish are living animals and are not cut to a fixed dimension, so a small natural difference around the stated band is possible. Compare the selected size, price and availability in the live selector immediately before checkout.
The product page can display a lower per-fish rate at the 2 fish and 4+ fish tiers. This is a commercial quantity discount only. It does not identify sex, assess compatibility or create a pair. Buy multiple fish only when the aquarium has enough floor space, cave choices and a practical route to separate an animal that is being excluded.
| Selector choice | What enters the basket | What is not promised |
|---|---|---|
| 1 fish | One unsexed fish in the selected approximate size | A chosen sex or exact individual markings |
| 2 fish | Two unsexed fish, with the relevant Multi-Buy rate if shown | One male plus one female, compatibility or a bonded pair |
| 4+ fish | The selected number of unsexed fish, with the relevant Multi-Buy rate if shown | A harmonious group, sex ratio or breeding result |
Albino Red Kribensis is a trade-form name for Pelvicachromis pulcher, not a separate species. NCBI Taxonomy places the species in the cichlid family Cichlidae, while FishBase lists Rainbow Krib among its common names. The supplier has not supplied a genotype, breeder, locality, pedigree or captive-origin certificate, so the listing does not invent one.
The reference fish is pale cream to yellow-gold with a red eye, darker spots and ocelli through the dorsal and tail fins, and a muted pink belly. Lighting, background, age, social state and settling can all change how strong these colours appear. A newly arrived fish may be paler than a settled animal and should be judged after it has recovered in stable conditions.
No two fish will match pixel for pixel. Body tone, belly colour, fin edging and the number or position of dark marks can differ. The images are identification and husbandry aids rather than a promise of the exact dispatched individual.
FishBase records a maximum published total length of 11 cm for P. pulcher. Many aquarium fish may remain smaller, but responsible planning uses adult potential rather than the shop size. A 4-5 cm animal is not a permanent miniature and should not be placed in a temporary aquarium that cannot support its adult territory.
Kribensis use caves and the area around them. Horizontal room, floor layout and sightline control therefore matter more than a tall but narrow volume. Two aquariums with the same litres can perform very differently if one offers an 80 cm footprint with several separated shelters and the other concentrates every fish around one cave.
Growth rate is influenced by genetics, starting size, temperature, food quality, feeding access, water quality and social stress. Heavy feeding in poor water is not healthy growth. Aim for steady development, a rounded but not swollen abdomen, clear fins and normal activity.
Use an established aquarium at least 80 cm long and around 80 litres as a practical baseline for one fish, provided the layout has useful floor space, stable filtration and compatible residents. Larger is easier to manage and gives more options when territories shift.
A compatible established pair can be kept in a species-focused 80 cm setup, but around 100 litres or more is the more conservative starting point in a community. The aquarium should contain several cave choices, visual barriers and a retreat route. This is husbandry planning, not a claim that two newly purchased fish are a pair.
Do not use the 4+ fish price tier as a stocking recommendation for an ordinary small aquarium. Several Kribensis can create overlapping cave territories and serious exclusion. A multi-fish project needs a much larger footprint, many separated shelters, careful observation and spare accommodation.
| Stocking situation | Conservative starting point | Main requirement |
|---|---|---|
| One Albino Red Kribensis | At least 80 cm length and around 80 litres | Mature filtration, floor space, cover and one or more secure retreats |
| One established compatible pair | 80 cm species-focused aquarium; around 100 litres or more in a community | Several caves, broken sightlines and a separation plan |
| Several unsexed fish | Substantially larger footprint assessed for the actual group | Multiple independent territories, distributed feeding and spare accommodation |
| Breeding project | Dedicated mature aquarium preferred | Quiet cave site, controlled tank mates and a plan for fry and parental aggression |
Use sand or a smooth fine substrate that allows natural investigation without sharp edges. Keep the surface clean through controlled feeding and gentle maintenance. Deep pockets of trapped waste around hardscape should be avoided.
Provide more than one cave or enclosed retreat, even for one fish. Clay caves, coconut shells, smooth rock structures or wood can work when they are stable and have no trapping points. A cave with a single defensible entrance often feels more secure than an exposed arch.
Wood, robust plants and carefully placed rock can prevent one fish from watching the entire floor. A subordinate fish needs a route that genuinely leaves the dominant animal's line of sight. Decoration should divide space while leaving open feeding and maintenance access.
Live plants are useful for cover and visual separation. Rooted plants may need protection from local digging around a chosen cave. Leaf litter can be used in a managed natural-style aquarium, but it should not be allowed to trap excessive food or hide deteriorating water quality.
| Layout element | Purpose | Practical check |
|---|---|---|
| Sand or smooth fine substrate | Comfortable lower-level foraging and cave work | No sharp chips or compacted waste pockets |
| Several caves | Choice of secure retreats and potential spawning sites | Stable, fish cannot become trapped, entrances are not all adjacent |
| Wood and plants | Cover and sightline control | Subordinate fish can leave view rather than being cornered |
| Open feeding area | Lets every fish reach food and be observed | Food is not controlled by one territorial resident |
| Accessible floor | Supports cleaning and health checks | Waste can be removed without dismantling the whole territory |
Aim for 24-26 C, pH 5.5-7.5 and 5-15 dGH. FishBase publishes a broader species envelope of pH 5.0-8.0 and 5-19 dH, but tolerance limits are not targets to chase. Stability, oxygenation and clean water are more valuable than repeatedly adjusting chemistry to a fashionable exact number.
Ammonia and nitrite must remain at 0 mg/l in a cycled aquarium. Keep nitrate low and stable through appropriate stocking, restrained feeding, plant growth where used and regular partial water changes. Test whenever behaviour changes, after a filtration interruption or when adding livestock.
Use moderate distributed flow with surface movement and quieter zones around shelters. A cave should not become a dead pocket full of debris, but the fish should not have to fight a concentrated jet all day. Warm water carries less oxygen, so surface movement and sensible stocking remain important.
| Parameter | Practical target | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 24-26 C | Stable warm-water target within the species references |
| pH | 5.5-7.5 | A practical central range; avoid abrupt correction |
| General hardness | 5-15 dGH | Moderately soft to moderately hard planning range |
| Ammonia | 0 mg/l | Any detectable level requires investigation |
| Nitrite | 0 mg/l | Any detectable level requires investigation |
| Nitrate | Low and stable | Control through stocking, feeding and maintenance |
| Flow | Moderate and distributed | Oxygenation without constant blasting |
Use the water matcher to compare the aquarium's measured conditions with the practical range before ordering. A thermometer alone cannot confirm that a tank is ready.
Many individuals settle well in a structured community and spend long periods calmly exploring the lower levels. The semi-aggressive label recognises that this is a territorial cichlid, especially around a cave, partner or brood. Behaviour must be observed rather than assumed from the trade name.
A fish that ignored a cave last week may defend it after maturity or a social change. New decoration, a new resident or pair formation can also alter the balance. Check whether every fish can eat, rest and cross the aquarium without being repeatedly chased.
Have a divider, spare mature aquarium or reliable rehoming route before combining several cichlids. Waiting until a fish has stopped feeding is too late. Early intervention protects fins, body condition and long-term confidence.
Good tank mates usually occupy the middle or upper water, are too large to be treated as prey, and are calm enough not to provoke or outcompete the Kribensis. Their adult temperature, hardness, activity and group-size needs must overlap; sharing one temperature number is not enough.
Calm medium tetras, suitable rasboras, peaceful barbs that are not persistent nippers, and selected livebearers can work where water requirements overlap. A group should be complete rather than reduced to make room for the cichlid. Bottom dwellers require extra caution because they may enter the defended cave zone.
Cory-type catfish can cross territories without recognising the warning, while plecos and other cave users may compete for the same shelter. Success depends on footprint, cave distribution, feeding access and the individual fish. Do not rely on a generic compatibility chart when the aquarium is already crowded at floor level.
Avoid aggressive cichlids, persistent fin nippers, highly territorial cave fish in restricted space and any fish small enough to become vulnerable. Do not use this species in a shrimp-breeding or fry-rearing aquarium where every juvenile must survive. Even if adult shrimp coexist, shrimplets may be eaten.
| Compatibility group | Examples or situation | Decision rule |
|---|---|---|
| Often suitable | Calm medium schooling fish using middle or upper water | Match adult water needs and provide full social groups |
| Use caution | Cory-type catfish, plecos and other lower-level fish | Protect floor space, caves and feeding access |
| Use caution | Other Kribensis or dwarf cichlids | Territories may overlap; separation must be possible |
| Avoid | Aggressive cichlids and persistent fin nippers | High injury and chronic-stress risk |
| Avoid for guaranteed survival | Tiny fry and shrimplets | Small animals may be eaten |
| Avoid | Uncycled, unstable or cramped aquariums | No companion choice can compensate for unsuitable habitat |
Compare related fish before deciding. The African Dwarf Cichlids category gives the wider context, while the Pelvicachromis range keeps the comparison within the genus.
Use a complete, high-quality small cichlid pellet or granule as the nutritional foundation. Add measured frozen or live foods and include foods with useful plant-rich or detrital components. The goal is variety and balance, not constant rich protein.
Offer an amount the fish can finish promptly and remove persistent leftovers. Split food across more than one area when a dominant fish controls the main feeding point. Observe each animal swallowing food rather than assuming that food added to the tank was shared fairly.
The 4-5 cm option needs smaller particles than a larger established adult. Food should be easy to take without creating clouds of dust. A newly arrived fish may prefer familiar small frozen items initially, but it should be moved onto a complete staple rather than maintained on one treat food.
| Food role | Examples | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Complete staple | Quality small cichlid pellets or granules | Forms the regular nutritional base |
| Frozen or live variety | Appropriately sized aquatic invertebrate foods | Measured rotation, not the entire diet |
| Plant-rich component | Balanced foods containing algae or suitable plant ingredients | Supports an omnivorous feeding plan |
| Observation tool | Small portions in separated feeding points | Confirms that shy or subordinate fish can feed |
| Avoid | Large leftovers, mammalian meat and a single-food routine | Reduces imbalance and water-quality problems |
Peer-reviewed work describes P. pulcher as a cave-spawning, predominantly socially monogamous cichlid with biparental brood care. A compatible pair may clean and defend an enclosed site, guard eggs and later lead fry through the aquarium.
Brood care can intensify territorial defence. Fish that previously shared the lower levels may be driven away from a cave and surrounding feeding area. A community that looks calm before spawning may therefore need rapid management afterwards.
Ordering two unsexed fish does not establish sex, compatibility or bonding. Even a male and female can reject one another. Breeding should be treated as a separate project with spare accommodation, a plan for fry and an understanding that no commercial outcome is guaranteed.
Published work documents sexual size and colour differences in adults. Males are generally larger and can show a more extended body and fin profile, while mature females often develop a stronger rounded red-to-purple belly. Individual condition, age and trade-form colour can make simple visual rules unreliable.
Juvenile or subadult fish cannot be assigned a guaranteed sex from ordinary appearance. The selected size is not a sex selection. We therefore supply unsexed fish and do not promise a male, female or ratio.
A strong belly colour does not by itself prove sex, readiness to breed or compatibility. Mood, social state, lighting and health can alter colour. Evaluate the whole fish and its behaviour over time.
The smaller option can adapt well to a calm grow-on community where companions are size appropriate and feeding is easy to monitor. It should not enter a tank with large predatory fish, dominant adult cichlids or very fast feeders that can exclude it.
The larger option has more body size at dispatch but also more immediate territorial presence. It still needs acclimation and cannot simply be added to an occupied cave zone. Compare it with the adult size and temperament of every resident.
Neither option guarantees sex, compatibility or final colour. Choose the size that fits the existing community and its feeding dynamics, then let the live selector confirm current price and availability.
The filter should be cycled, temperature stable and ammonia and nitrite both 0 mg/l. Know the pH and hardness rather than guessing. New decor does not make a new aquarium biologically mature.
Count the existing cave users and lower-level residents. Identify where the new fish can retreat, where it will feed and how it will leave another fish's territory. If every cave is already occupied, add space rather than simply adding another shelter into the same crowded corner.
Have a quarantine or observation plan and a separation route. Check the current livestock delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee information before choosing a date, and make sure someone can receive the parcel promptly.
Dim the aquarium lighting, confirm temperature and water chemistry, and make sure the planned retreat is available. Keep pets and unnecessary activity away from the acclimation area. Never allow a transport bag to float unattended where it may tear or overheat.
Use the current livestock acclimation instructions supplied with the order. Transport water should not be poured into the aquarium. The acclimation timer can help keep the process orderly, but it does not replace checking the fish and water conditions.
Allow the fish to find cover and keep disturbance low. It may hide or show subdued colour. Do not chase it into view for photographs, and do not add rich food immediately just to prove that it will eat.
Check breathing, posture, fins, feeding response and whether the fish can use the aquarium without repeated pursuit. Test water if anything looks wrong. Small early changes in territory or feeding position are easier than treating a fish after prolonged stress.
| Time | What to do | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Before arrival | Test water, dim lights, prepare cover and review instructions | Stable temperature, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite |
| During acclimation | Follow the supplied method and keep transport water out of the tank | Normal orientation and controlled breathing |
| First evening | Keep the aquarium quiet and feeding light | Ability to settle into cover without harassment |
| Days 2-3 | Offer small suitable foods and observe every resident | Feeding access, fins, respiration and chasing |
| First week | Maintain routine, test if concerned and adjust territories early | Stable body condition and confident use of space |
Look at body condition, fin edges, colour, respiration, waste, feeding response and the social map of the aquarium. A fish that stays hidden during every feed may be excluded even when there is no visible injury.
Use a regular schedule suited to stocking and nitrate production. Match replacement water carefully enough to avoid abrupt temperature or chemistry changes. Clean accessible substrate areas without destroying every secure territory at once.
Maintain flow and oxygenation while preserving biological filtration. Rinse reusable media in removed aquarium water when appropriate, not untreated hot tap water. Do not replace all mature media simultaneously.
Reassess caves and sightlines when fish mature or behaviour changes. A layout can be excellent for juveniles and unsuitable after a pair claims the centre. Adjust deliberately, then observe rather than repeatedly redecorating.
Some caution after arrival is normal. Persistent hiding combined with missed meals, clamped fins or rapid breathing requires checks of water quality, harassment and physical condition.
Brief displays can occur, but repeated pursuit that prevents resting or feeding is not harmless social activity. Break sightlines or separate fish before weight loss and injury develop.
A constantly swollen abdomen, stringy waste, sunken profile or declining appetite needs investigation. Review diet, food access and water quality, and seek an aquatic veterinary professional when illness is suspected. Do not medicate the entire aquarium blindly.
Check temperature, oxygenation, ammonia, nitrite and gill condition immediately. Increase safe surface movement while identifying the cause. Warm, overstocked water can lose its safety margin quickly.
The first four gallery images are representative scenes created from the product reference. They help show the pale gold body, red eye, dark fin spots and likely aquarium context, but they are not photographs of the exact fish dispatched.
The fifth image is the retained Petra supplier reference. It is lower resolution but useful for provenance and identity comparison.
A gallery scene with two fish illustrates social context only. The sale unit remains one unsexed fish per selected quantity, and no compatible or bonded pair is promised.
Compare the Common Krib Gold-Albino when the priority is another pale domestic form. Read each page independently because size choices, gallery references and live availability can differ.
The Common Krib Blue offers a different appearance-led trade option within P. pulcher. Trade colour labels do not remove the need for cave territory and cichlid-aware stocking.
See the Super Red Kribensis for a stronger red-led trade presentation. Do not assume two similarly named products have identical adult markings.
The Pelvicachromis taeniatus Niger Red is a separate species-level option, not another name for this fish. Scientific names help prevent a colour label from hiding that distinction.
Browse the broader live tropical fish shop for current availability. Another established Kribensis listing may provide a useful standard-form comparison, but compare the scientific name, size and sale unit before ordering.
The FishBase species summary supports the accepted name, West African distribution, maximum published length, broad water envelope and 80 cm minimum aquarium length. The NCBI Taxonomy record independently confirms the species placement.
Peer-reviewed research on Pelvicachromis pulcher reproductive behaviour supports the descriptions of cave spawning, predominantly monogamous pairing, biparental care, adult sexual differences and territorial defence. A separate territorial-behaviour study supports treating the species as territorial and biparental.
Species research cannot identify the sex, compatibility, final colour or future behaviour of one unexamined retail fish. The supplier has not provided a genotype, breeder, exact locality, pedigree or origin certificate. Those limits are stated rather than filled with marketing guesses.
One live, unsexed Albino Red Kribensis is supplied for each selected quantity, in the approximate size chosen from the live selector.
No. It means two unsexed fish. Sex, compatibility, bonding and breeding are not guaranteed.
It is a quantity discount with 1 fish, 2 fish and 4+ fish tiers when shown. It is not a biological pair or group recommendation.
No. Stock is unsexed, and juvenile or subadult appearance does not support a reliable sex promise.
FishBase records a maximum published total length of 11 cm for Pelvicachromis pulcher. Plan for the adult fish rather than the dispatch grade.
Use at least an 80 cm long, mature aquarium and around 80 litres as a practical baseline for one fish. Around 100 litres or more is a more conservative start for an established compatible pair in a community.
Only in a substantially larger, carefully structured setup with several territories and spare accommodation. The price tier is not a stocking recommendation.
It can suit a planned community but is a semi-aggressive territorial cichlid. Cave defence and breeding behaviour can change the social balance.
Sometimes, but use caution. Cory-type fish may cross a defended floor territory, so provide enough footprint, separate feeding access and several retreats.
No complete safety can be promised. Adult shrimp may sometimes coexist with cover, while shrimplets and vulnerable small shrimp may be eaten.
Aim for 24-26 C, pH 5.5-7.5 and 5-15 dGH, with ammonia and nitrite at 0 mg/l. Stable clean water matters more than chasing one exact pH.
Use a complete small cichlid staple, measured frozen or live variety, and suitable plant-rich components. Avoid an all-protein or single-food diet.
No. Colour and markings vary naturally, and the first four scenes are representative images. The fifth is the retained supplier reference.
No origin certificate was supplied, so the listing does not promise captive-bred or wild-caught status.
There is no sex, compatibility or breeding guarantee. Two unsexed fish may not form a pair even if they later prove to be opposite sexes.
Choice reduces pressure around one shelter and helps divide the floor into defensible areas. It also gives a fish somewhere to retreat if the preferred cave changes hands.
WELCOME10 gives eligible first-time customers 10% off under the current terms. The live checkout confirms whether the code applies to the order.
Ready to choose? Confirm the approximate size, quantity and current availability in the selector. Each quantity remains one unsexed fish, protected by the current Live Arrival Guarantee when its terms are followed.
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