TankBud

Roloff's krib

Pelvicachromis roloffi

Also known as Kolente krib

FreshwaterFish

Roloff's krib (Pelvicachromis roloffi)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
3.1 in
8 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Kolenté basin, Guinea and Sierra Leone

Overview

Roloff's krib is a bottom-dwelling dwarf cichlid for a shaded tank with soft water. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Roloff's krib is named for a man better known to killifish keepers. Erhard Roloff once had a whole killifish genus, Roloffia, named after him. His surname turns up in two very different corners of the hobby.

Caring for the Roloff's krib

A pair of Roloff's kribs suits at least 29 gal (110 L), with room for a few gentle tank mates. Give them a soft, tannin-stained setup with a dark sandy floor, tangles of root and wood, and a few caves to spawn in. Scatter dried leaves for cover.

Keep the water soft and on the acidic side, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Feed a varied omnivore diet of small sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms and daphnia, plus some plant matter.

Keep a single bonded pair rather than a group, since the two fish claim a cave and defend it together. Roloff's krib is fairly peaceful, but choose tank mates with care. Pair it only with small, calm species that will not crowd the floor or harass a spawning pair.

Females are the flashier sex, flushing a plum to purple belly in breeding dress. Males grow a little larger and longer-finned. It spawns in caves, and both parents guard the eggs and shepherd the fry. Breeding is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

Pelvicachromis roloffi is a krib in the cichlid family, Cichlidae, also known as the Kolente krib. The species honors Erhard Roloff, a German collector of West African fishes.

In the wild

Roloff's krib comes from the Kolente basin, known downstream as the Great Scarcies, on the border of Guinea and Sierra Leone. It lives in shaded, gently flowing forest streams and pools. The water there is very soft, slightly acidic, warm and stained by leaf litter.

Common questions

What size tank does a Roloff's krib need?

A Roloff's krib needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Roloff's krib need?

A Roloff's krib is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a Roloff's krib eat?

Roloff's krib eats a varied omnivore diet. Feed it small sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms and daphnia, plus some plant matter.

How big does a Roloff's krib get?

An adult Roloff's krib reaches about 3.1 in (8 cm).

How can you tell a male Roloff's krib from a female?

Males grow a little larger, with longer fins. Females are the flashier sex, flushing a plum to purple belly in breeding dress.

How does a Roloff's krib breed?

Roloff's kribs spawn in caves as a bonded pair. Both parents guard the eggs and shepherd the fry, and breeding is of medium difficulty.

Related species