keeping demasoni cichlids

[dakora]

Just got my malawi tank up and running. 100x50x50cm, so decent size. Got 3 demasoni and 5 peacocks in there. Couple of nice rocks too, but can never find the demasoni, they're like ghosts. Was thinking maybe a nice red malawi would complement the tank, hint hint. Any suggestions would be great, thanks.

[floriks]

Honestly, I'm shocked your demasoni haven't clashed yet - they're notorious for their aggression towards each other, usually recommended to be kept in much larger groups of 12 or more.

What specific type of peacocks have you got in there, by the way? I think they generally require more space, but I'll admit I don't know much about them - never really been my cup of tea.

Also, two rocks might not be enough, in my opinion. I've got a bunch of them in my own tank - around 30 or so - and that's just for six julidochromis, which are rock-dwellers, let alone aggressive mbuna like your demasoni.

[waveborn]

Honestly, I'm shocked your demasoni haven't clashed yet - they're notorious for their aggression towards each other, usually recommended to be kept in much larger groups of 12 or more.

What specific type of peacocks have you got in there, by the way? I think they generally require more space, but I'll admit I don't know much about them - never really been my cup of tea.

Also, two rocks might not be enough, in my opinion. I've got a bunch of them in my own tank - around 30 or so - and that's just for six julidochromis, which are rock-dwellers, let alone aggressive mbuna like your demasoni.

Agreed that the Demasoni can be a handful, their aggression levels are often through the roof. When kept in a carefully monitored species tank or as individuals in a community, they tend to be one of the most aggressive of the genus - it's a delicate balance.

Could you provide more information on the peacocks? What species, age, and is it a single species tank or a planned all-male setup? If you're considering mixing Mbuna with them, a larger tank would be essential. However, peacocks shouldn't be stocked like Mbuna - they grow quite large and have impressive fins, so it's best to stock half as many.

The Aulonocara genus is indeed a stunning and relatively easy-to-keep African species, but it requires careful consideration. Without more information, it's difficult to provide specific advice. One crucial point to keep in mind is that if you mix peacocks from different genera, it's best to avoid including females - they will interbreed, resulting in unsalable fry.

[dakora]

I think the two big rocks I've got are sufficient, one of them weighs over 30 kilograms, which is massive. I had to remove 36 litres of water just to put them in the tank, it was a real ordeal. I did add a few more rocks to the tank, four to be exact, but I forgot to mention that earlier.

I've got two 3cm demasoni and one 5cm, they were labelled as demasoni saulosi at the pet store. I was told on this forum that saulosi were fine to keep with peacocks, so I went with that advice. The peacocks I've got range in size from 6cm to 8cm, and I've had them all together for three days now. So far, they don't seem to be paying much attention to each other, which is a relief. I've got to say, I'm not a fan of the way pet stores label their fish, it's really frustrating.

[waveborn]

Apologies.

[dakora]

That's what the label said, anyway. I'm just making an educated guess with the weight, it's roughly twice as heavy as a 12.5kg bag of spuds. The weight of the rock doesn't affect how much water I need to take out, it's the mass that does - weight equals density, not coverage. No need to get stressed about my lack of knowledge, I'm here to learn, not be sworn at. If I knew what I was doing, I wouldn't be asking for help. I'll try and get some pics up for you.

[floriks]

I've got a better idea for your tank, dakora. Those two massive rocks you've got aren't doing much for your fish, if you ask me. See, the fish want to be able to dig and hide between rocks, not just behind them. If I were in your shoes, I'd take those rocks outside and break them up into smaller pieces - that way, you'll get more cracks and crevices for your fish to play in.

Don't get me wrong, the rocks don't have to be huge, just plenty of them. I've got a tank with 140 pounds of rock in it, and it's not because I've got massive boulders in there, it's just that I've got a lot of smaller rocks that create a nice environment for my fish.

As for the saulosi or demasoni or whatever you've got in there, I'd take them back to the shop if I were you. You're either going to end up with fish that are going to kill each other or fish that are going to be miserable because they're not in a decent group. And let's be real, without a bunch of females in the mix, you're just asking for trouble.

[floriana]

Demosani's are notorious for their hellish behavior when not kept in suitable numbers. These dwarf mbuna don't get very big, about 2.5 inches, but trust me, they pack a punch. I'm talking groups of 12 or more, that's the bare minimum. This isn't just about preventing them from killing each other - although that's a big part of it. It's also about protecting the females from being bullied to death when breeding season kicks in.

Two rocks? That's just not gonna cut it. Have you seen the rock formations in Lake Malawi? It's like a maze of intricate caves and crevices, and that's what these fish need. They need places to hide, to feel safe. I've learned this from experience, keeping my own Mbuna. It's not the same, I know, but I've seen how having tons of rocks and caves can keep the dominant fish in check. It's all about giving them options, letting them choose when to interact and when to hide.

I'm not trying to lecture, but I genuinely think you should research these fish before keeping them. And until you can provide a suitable environment, I'd return the fish you've got. It might seem peaceful now, but those Demosani will turn on each other eventually. It's not a matter of if, but when.

[slyzen]

I've had a trio of adult f1 demasoni for 2 years now, never had any issues. I've kept them in various setups, 16 tanks in total, with both heavy and light stocking and they've always done well. I've found them to be no more aggressive than other mbuna, every fish is different in temperament. The lack of rock might actually be helping to prevent them from causing problems for each other. They also don't seem to bother other fish, including Aulonocara. If they do kick off, it's usually between themselves. I've kept a group of 16 demasoni with my Aulonocara Mamelela and never had any issues, they bred and left each other alone. My advice would be to keep an eye on them and choose a food that benefits both types of fish, I use NLS.

[dakora]

The rock I've got is really cool, full of holes and nooks for the fish to hide in. I know I should've done more research on the saulosi, but I thought demasoni saulosi was just the full name for them. I mean, they looked similar and the label said it for sure. I was chuffed to bits they had them in stock, as I'd never seen them before. Should've been a giveaway, though - there were no yellow fish in the tank with them. I'm still trying to figure out how to put pics up again, but when I do, you'll see that the two big rocks and four small ones are actually quite a lot for the tank. I've seen some tanks online with less rockwork than I've got, so I'm not too fussed about that. I know I've made a mistake, but I'm hoping someone can offer some suggestions as I'm stuck with the fish now.