Demosani... Holding eggs? Bloat? Fat and healthy?

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CoryWM

CoryWM

Candiru
MFK Member
Jan 13, 2008
368
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Everett, Washington
www.tankgeek.com
This demosani is fatter than the other ones in my tank. I have 19 all together so far. I'm just looking for an opinion... Have a two fold question really. First. the 19 Demosani I bought, had spawned in the tank at the shop before I got them.. Since then, been about 4-6 weeks. They have not... I put them in a 100g at about 80 degrees. with tons of rock. What do I need to do to encourage breeding. Just from my own hunch, I'm thinking too much territory aggression is going on, since they have a bigger tank, and not enough stock yet?(no more locally to buy yet) Secondly, From the pics below, what do you think the state of this demosani is?


Thanks,

bulge3.jpg

Bigger fish in back is the one in question.
bulge2.jpg

Side view
bulge1.jpg
 
Looks bloated to me. I'd move it to a quarantine tank and you can try to treat it or just outright kill it. Bloat is difficult to get rid of once it gets to far and in my opinion not worth the hassle. You can google it to find the best way to cure it but in most cases its not worth the effort.
 
Looks bloated.What are you feeding? fast them a few days then Go heavy on veggies and spirulena.Keep them on a heavy veggie/ spirulena diet.
Have heard of tropheus keepers using metronizadole for bloat with good results
 
I've been feeding them some small cichlid pellets that my LFS had been feeding them before I got them. Not a brand name. He buys it from someone and repackages it. The kinda deal where you bring back the container and get it refilled for half the price. He's been keeping exclusively cichlids for 14 years at his shop, and like 30 years in the hobby. So I hope he's feeding them good food... :D

As for filtration, there is an fx5 with DIY spraybar on the tank. With a powersweep 280gph powerhead, with sponge filter attached. The problem is, the tank isnt drilled for sump or have cut outs in the back of the tank for hang on back filters.

Here is the full tank shot. Some of you have seen it before.

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Maybe stress induced....Try providing more hiding spots.

:ROFL:
 
what are the prams? You do not know what the protein level is in the food you are feeding? I would ask... It maybe high for early growth, but not great for long term.... Best to ask!
 
damn, thats bloat for sure! if you care, id throw in some metronidazole right away! man, ive never had bloat wit my malawi's but my past duboisi masawa (dont remind me) it was too late. i miss those guys :cry: now i stay ready wit metronidazole for my mooriis and kaisers!
 
First things first, it is a P. Demasoni (pronounced deh-may-son-eye). Secondly I have been keeping these with metriaclima msobo "deep" for a few years. That fish is bloated and you will probably lose him, once bloat sets in and you havent caught it immediately the fish is a goner. I lost one of mine to bloat when I first started keeping mbunas. The key to a healthy herbivore is a main staple of spirulina with an occasional treat of brine (live or frozen) no more than once a week. I do a 30% water change once a week and as far as the breeding thing goes get yourself a moonlight LED, right now I have 4 females holding at the same time (3 P. Demasoni and 1 M. Msobo) they love the moonlight and believe me it helps with breeding. as far as more sand that has little to do with this type of fish as they are rock dwellers and it seems that you have plenty of nooks and crannies for them. also you are running the temp too high, it will eventually spawn aggression, 76-78 is ideal. If I were you drop the temp and you will notice a big difference in their attitudes toward each other. I run my tank at 76 and the 20 africans and 2 spiney eels live in harmony.
I have a vast knowledge on keeping african mbuna. you can email me with questions or concerns, and I guarantee I will steer you in the right direction
 
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