keyni and demasoni

[skjoldhus]

The differences in both fish are fairly strong. Adult Demasoni are essentially a black fish with blueish/lavender bars that run the length of the body vertically. There is extreme metalic turquois or electric blue in the first bar cresting the face ( between the eyes ) and over the gill plate. Adult Kenyi Males are a bright yellow colour with faded or non-existant barring while the females are blue, also following that pattern. With Demasoni there is very little divergence between the male and female fish. He is just a tad brighter than her, but sexual dimorphism is pretty minimal.

Behaviourally they are worlds apart. Kenyi are a mid-grade to milder fish where aggression is concerned. Where-as Demasoni are VERY aggressive and require large and equally robust tank mates to keep them in check. More often than not they will dominate a mixed tank unless severely outsized or unless extremely aggressive species are kept with them.

One of my Demasoni is currently in a tank by himself as he could not play nice with others. Until the others are much larger he will remain away from the population tank. Good luck with your fish.

- Erik -

 

[SinisterKisses]

I have to strongly disagree that "Kenyi are a mid-grade to milder fish where aggression is concerned." They certainly are not. Kenyi are infamous for being of the more aggressive mbuna out there. At a bare minimum, I'd say that typically, demasoni and Kenyi would rank about the same in aggression.

 

[Socalladylish]

I have a Kenyi, and a Demasoni in the same tank, and they do ok with each other. They tend to leave each other alone. I think they have a kind of understanding, but I have to agree that the Demasoni seems to be a little more aggressive. They're not the same size or anythiing, but the Kenyi isn't that much bigger either.

 

[skjoldhus]

I generally defer to you Sinister as I respect your extensive knowledge of Africans. I can only go with base line observations. "Rumblefish" as I jokingly call him, is now ( since the last posting ) in a tank with my scrappers and larger africans. I have both Kenyi and Demasoni together in the tank. Speaking strictly from my fish, they are not even close. Not to imply that Kenyi cannot hold their own. But I liken them to Zebras aggressionwise. The only thing in my scrapper tank that keeps my larger Demasoni in check is a "Mutt" that has a good inch and a half on him, and my larger Auratus and Jewels and Powder Blue. To help disrupt them I have a shoal of 10 Tiger barbs ( I use groups of large Danios or Barbs in long tanks to disrupt or break up some African Aggression ) that zip around and confuse the territorial scraps of my cichlids. The method works amazingly well.

The tank that my large Demasoni came from in the store had several Johanni and Large Mbunas in it. After he was bagged I was told by an employee when I asked how he had faired that he was the dominant fish in that tank. I was in disbelief until I got him home and discovered what he did to my established Malawi tank. Lots of fights and Chaos! On a good footnote, he seems a lot more settled and happy at last with the new tank of scrappers.

Take care. - Erik - ( And thank you for your insights on the Malawi Mayhem site Sinister. Much appreciated. )

 

[Scotty]

Erik, your description of the two fish is brilliant. Could not have done it better. As for aggression the Demasoni beats the Lombardoi hands down. Demasoni are a lot smaller fish but will give most bigger mbuna a good go.