Keeping demasoni and yellow labs together

[Dusk4t]

I'm setting up my 60g tank and it's cycled, so I'm thinking of stocking it with Demasoni x12, yellow lab x4, and peacock x2. Would appreciate some thoughts on this combo.

[Eclipse4]

This combo could be a recipe for disaster unless you've got a ton of hiding spots. One of the breeds will inevitably dominate the tank, and the others will be fair game. I've had my share of troubles with similar mixes - keeping Labs with Red Jewels was a nightmare. If you're still set on this, I wish you the best of luck, but I've got my doubts. You'll likely end up with stressed-out females that won't make it, they'll be holding and just get too overwhelmed. That's a bold move, I'll give you that.

[jamtart]

My yellow lab cichlid was super aggressive. He despised the other fish the entire time he was in the tank.

[Dusk4t]

I finally tracked down my demasoni - what a hunt that was. Lucked out with one of my LFS, they had a guy looking to trade in 10 of them and the owner remembered I was after them. He snagged them for me and gave me a call - not the 12 I was after, but these guys seem happy in their new home. Picked up 4 yellow labs at the same time, and they've been settling in for a week now. So far, no major squabbles and the torn fins are starting to mend, which is a relief. I'm thinking of adding a few more fish to the mix - maybe 4-6. I was considering a red zebra and a couple of syno catfish. Does anyone have suggestions for fish outside the yellow and blue spectrum that might work with my current crew? I'm curious about peacocks - would they be a good fit?

[bark9er]

I think keeping this as a species tank would be the way to go, especially with that many Demasoni. They're tiny, but don't let their size fool you - they're super aggressive. With that many Demasoni and only a few Labs and Peacocks, I'd bet you'll be replacing Yellow Labs pretty regularly.

[Dusk4t]

I'm really attached to the color combo, so what if I just add more yellow labs to the mix? I'd love to know at what point the aggression would become a problem. My demasoni are already 2 1/2 to 3" big, which I've read is almost full-grown for them. Right now, they seem more interested in chasing each other than the labs. Most of the time, they don't even bat an eye if a lab is next to them, but as soon as another demasoni comes close, they'll chase it out of its area. I'm curious to know how this dynamic might change as they settle in more. Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it.

[bark9er]

In a 60g tank, you're already pushing the limits. I'd advise against adding more labs to the mix, it's just gonna increase the stress. If I were you, I'd actually consider getting rid of the labs altogether and adding a few more demosani instead. I know it sounds harsh, but demosani can turn on you when you least expect it, they're a vicious little breed.

[Dusk4t]

I'll definitely take your advice into consideration and keep a close eye on them, thanks again for the input, I'll have to think on it some more before making any decisions.