Demasoni Question

[LilBabyEmma]

Im ordering 5 demasoni and was wondering if they would kill each other or my other fish in a 55g tank with lots or hideing places
i have 6 yellows, 2 yellow tail acei, 4 keyni, 5 red zebras

[1974Pantera]

Pseudotropeus demasoni can and will be brutal to the rest of your tank mates.

To me, their beautiful coloring just isn't worth the headache. I had a couple for years in a 75 and they were kept in line by a more nasty/vicious sp.44

Ounce for ounce, they are the most aggressive mbuna species.

[LilBabyEmma]

i just orderd 5 demasoni cichlids they should be here in 2 days
i was wondering if 5 demasoni will get along with 5 electric yellows, 2 acei, 5 red zebras, 4 kenyi

[GTS]

i just orderd 5 demasoni cichlids they should be here in 2 days
i was wondering if 5 demasoni will get along with 5 electric yellows, 2 acei, 5 red zebras, 4 kenyi


What size is the tank? Demansoni can be extremely aggressive to each other and to similar looking mbuna. But they can be housed together in a proper sized tank.

[LilBabyEmma]

What size is the tank? Demansoni can be extremely aggressive to each other and to similar looking mbuna. But they can be housed together in a proper sized tank.

There in a 55g tank with lots of hideing places

[mike dunagan]

These fish are also really aggressive with their own type. Most of the time people who have kept them fish suggest more than 5 for a group. Do you know the ratio of M to F?

[glenbo]

Keep one on its own or not at all..thats what i suggest...same for Auratus..which is much more aggressive than Demasoni.

[GTS]

There in a 55g tank with lots of hideing places


I wouldnt do it. You would need a larger group of Demansoni to spread around the aggression and a larger tank. Unlike a lot of people I think Demansoni can be kept together without casualties, it just takes the right setup.

[gomezladdams]

Ive had a stable group for years.at least 4 males and 12 or so females.
Its important that the dominant demasoni is not the alpha male of the tank.Thats what I was told by a breeder and it has worked for me.

[fischfan13]

You should get more Demasoni. They will not even pay attention to the other tankmates, but the aggression that they shell out on each other can be brutal. Definitely one of my favorite Mbuna, and have kept them on and off for years.

[JoeBel]

IME Dems are the most intolerable Mbuna of their own kind. I barely am able to keep 3 in my 55g, the alpha male is constantly beating on the other 2, I am going to be removing them because it's just torture for them. They can survive in small #'s but it's not a comfortable situation for them. Like everyone said, either go 12 or just 1.

[JeffLeMay]

to me 55 just sounds way too small for that many mbuna...jmo

[emptyhead]

Im ordering 5 demasoni and was wondering if they would kill each other or my other fish in a 55g tank with lots or hideing places
i have 6 yellows, 2 yellow tail acei, 4 keyni, 5 red zebras

Have you already ordered them?

I'm going to guess that your mbuna are not mature yet. I would remove the kenyi and red zebra, especially if you want to add demasoni.

Demasoni and female kenyi look similiar. I would not keep demasoni and kenyi together.

I would stock your 55g with 12 demasoni and 6 yellow labs. Acei are pretty peaceful, but get a bit large. You could still keep them in your 55. If you keep demasoni in your 55g, be prepared for some major aggression issues from time to time as males mature.

A more peaceful 55g tank would be to choose 12 C. afra instead of demasoni. So keeping 12 C. afra and 6 yellow labs would be a more enjoyable 55g set up IMO. You could a couple of synos also.