The Demasoni Cichlid, scientific name Pseudotropheus demasoni is an especially sharp-looking African cichlid. It comes from Lake Malawi and is a more modern addition to the aquarium hobby.
It was first described and introduced into the hobby in 1994 by Ad Konings and was named after his good friend Laif Denison. It’s also identified by the common names Demasoni Cichlid and Midnight Demasoni.
In this article, I am going to talk about Demasoni Cichlid fry, size, tankmates, for sale, female, care, male vs female, breeding, tank size, max size, etc.
Demasoni Cichlid Quick Stats
Name: Demasoni cichlid
Scientific name: Pseudotropheus demasoni
Alternative name: Dwarf mbuna
Family: Cichlidae
Size:3 inches (7.6 cm)
Care level: Moderate to hard
Minimum tank size: 55 gallons or more for larger groups (recommended to keep in large groups)
Temperature: 23 degrees to 27 degrees Celsius
Water conditions:5 to 8.5 pH
Diet: Omnivorous
Lifespan: 10 years
Temperament: Aggressive
Demasoni Cichlid Overview
It is a dwarf Mbuna that solely reaches about 2 half to three inches (6.4 to 7.6 cm) in size. It’s a fair cichlid that has a very inquisitive nature with lots of personality and spunk.
It’s a fascinating fish to observe because it follows the contours of the rocks, swimming along at odd angles for the purpose of being the other way up.
The body sample consists of crisp alternating stripes which might be darkish blue (nearly black) and lightweight blue.
On the dorsal fin, the stripes angle back with the lighter ones being thinner than the darkish ones. The higher and decrease fins, in addition to the tail fin, are edge in a light blue.
The Demanson’s Cichlid is usually confused with the Pseudotropheus minutus, being comparable in dimension and color.
Differences are that on the P. minutus, the lines cease earlier than the tail fin and are less distinct. Additionally, the Demanson’s Cichlid males have an egg spot.
That is zebra-type cichlid is a member of a group known as Mbunas. There are 13 genera stuffed with very lively and aggressive personalities of Mbuna cichlids.
The name Mbuna comes from the Tonga individuals of Malawi and means “rockfish” or “rock-dwelling”.
This name aptly describes the surroundings these fish live in versus being open water swimmers just like the Utaka Cichlids and different “haps”.
It is a great fish for each intermediate and experienced cichlid keeper. Though it’s full of life little cichlid, it’s average to hard to care for and is very aggressive.
This isn’t a community tank specimen to be housed with fish aside from cichlids.
Due to its small dimension, it may be housed in a bit smaller tank than what’s typical for Mbuna, however of course greater is best.
It doesn’t matter what dimension the aquarium is they need to be kept in a group of twelve or more to assist disperse aggressive habits.
This helps retains the dominant male from exhausting females and others as a result of fixed chasing, by spreading the “love” out.
Make sure the aquarium has ample rock formations that provide numerous hiding locations, as this will even assist thrust back brutal aggression between them. Piles of rocks may be organized to create a number of caves and passageways.
They may also be kept in a big aquarium of mixed Mbuna species, however once more there have to be plenty of hiding locations.
Success depends on the aquarist’s willingness to do frequent water adjustments, have enough numbers and hiding locations, and provide appropriate tank mates.
The Mbuna’s have been bred in captivity and with all the totally different hybrids which have been formed, there isn’t any strategy to tell exactly what you’re getting unless it’s from a good dealer. Attempt to keep the totally different species’ bloodlines pure.
Demasoni Cichlid Description
The Demanson’s Cichlid has the standard Mbuna elongated ‘torpedo’ physique form. They solely develop to about 2 half to three inches (6.four to 7.6 cm) in size.
It’s thought of to be within the ‘dwarf’ class as a result of its size. Mbuna cichlids can reside as much as 10 years with proper care.
They’ve alternating vertical bars that are darkish blue, nearly black, and light blue. There are six darkish and 5 light, beginning with a darkish stripe behind the gill cover and ending with a muted darkish stripe on the base of the tail fin.
On their head, they’ve three mild blue stripes alternating with the two darkish ones.
One in every one of these darkish stripes is between the eyes and the other one runs throughout the forehead, the place it forms of intersects with the very first vertical bar just behind the gill cover. Their “chin” is a medium blue coloring.
On the dorsal fin, the stripes angle again with the lighter blue ones being thinner than the darkish.
The tail fin has very skinny “horizontal” strains of darkish and light blue and the edge is ‘outlined’ within the light blue and underlined with a darkish blue.
All cichlids share a typical function that some saltwater fish such as wrasses and parrotfish have.
That may be a well-developed pharyngeal set of teeth that might be within the throat, together with their regular teeth.
Cichlids have spiny rays within the back parts of the anal, dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins to assist discourage predators.
The entrance a part of these fins is smooth and excellent for exact positions and easy actions within the water as opposed to quick swimming.
Cichlids have one nostril on either side whereas different fish have 2 sets.
To sense “smells” within the water, they suck water in and expel the water properly again out after being “sampled” for a brief or long time, relying on how a lot the cichlid must “odor” the water.
This function is shared by saltwater damselfish and cichlids are regarded as carefully associated.
Demasoni Cichlid – inches: 3.Zero inches (7.67 cm) – They solely develop to about 2 half to three inches (6.four to 7.6 cm) in size.
It’s thought of to be within the ‘dwarf’ class as a result of its dimension.
Lifespan: 10 years – Mbuna cichlids have a lifespan of about 10 years with correct care.
Demasoni Cichlid Keeping Challenges
It is a nice fish for each intermediate and skilled cichlid keeper. It’s an aggressive cichlid, and though it is smaller than is typical for Mbuna, it isn’t a neighborhood tank specimen that may be stored with fish other than cichlids.
The aquarists have to be keen to do frequent water changes and provide appropriate tank mates.
It’s inclined to Malawi bloat in addition to the standard illnesses that impact all freshwater fish if the tank will not be maintained.
Within the proper setup it can simply adapt to ready meals, breed readily, and the juveniles are easy to lift as well.
Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately Difficult
Aquarist Experience Stage: Intermediate
Demasoni Cichlid Habitat
The demasoni cichlid often resides in Africa. It’s present in nice numbers in Lake Malawi close to Pombo Rocks and the Ndumbi reef close to the Tanzanian coast.
It’s on the IUCN Red List as a result of it’s deemed vulnerable. Since it is just current in very restricted areas, it may be in peril. Nevertheless, it doesn’t face any instant threats to its existence but.
It often resides in rocks, and its diet consists of algae together with Aufwuchs. These are algae that might be predominantly stringy that’s connected to rocks.
The fish can discover them whereas trying to find meals from their residing house.
A viable meal supply is crucial when choosing a spot to reside in.
There are numerous issues current in Aufwuchs that present the fish with vitamins akin to nymphs, bugs, snails, zooplankton, and mites. All of those make up the diet of this fish in its natural habitat.
Demasoni Cichlid Care
Caring for a demasoni cichlid may be laborious and isn’t really helpful for a beginner aquarist.
The fish is extremely aggressive in nature and small in size. It can’t be stored with different species of fish as a result of its aggressive nature.
It needs carefully chosen mates for the tank and a change in water continuously.
The fish can be adversely affected by unhealthy water circumstances. Therefore, to supply sufficient care, a filter is necessary together with a weekly change of water.
Caring for a demasoni cichlid additionally consists of caring for its eating regimen. If its dietary wants aren’t met or if it will get too many proteins, it may develop numerous illnesses.
One of many greatest issues whereas caring for a demasoni cichlid is ensuring it doesn’t develop the Malawi Bloat.
It could possibly occur if the fish will not be correctly cared for or if the tank circumstances are not optimal.
It’s straightforward to maintain when it’s small. It could possibly often adapt to varied sorts of meals provided to it due to its omnivorous nature.
The water by which this fish naturally resides is filled with minerals. It is very important to present the fish with secure and clear water. Salt can be utilized to add minerals to the water for these fish.
Nevertheless, an excessive amount of salt can be detrimental to their health, so watch out about that.
A singular fish would require at the very least a 40-gallon tank.
Nevertheless, this fish likes to reside in teams, so it ought to often be stored with 12 different fish of the same variety. Because of this, you will have to get a lot larger tank than a 40-gallon one.
Diet & Nutrition
Omnivore that wants primarily herbivorous meals. Their diet ought to encompass vegetable matter.
An all-function, top-quality cichlid method can be utilized as a fundamental eating regimen. Together with vegetable dietary supplements to their diet will assist with total health.
It’s all the time higher to feed them in small quantities several occasions a day instead of 1 giant feeding.
This retains the water quality higher for an extended time period. In fact, all fish profit from added vitamins and dietary supplements to their meals.
It might not be smart to deal with this fish with the different genus of cichlids that eat beef coronary heart or different mammal meat, as these meals will trigger intestinal infections and death.
As said earlier, the demasoni cichlid is an omnivore and might eat most meal products. Its diet, nonetheless, ought to focus more on herbivorous meals. Greens are important to their diet
Excessive-quality cichlid formulation is often used to supply the demasoni cichlids with all of the required vitamins. This together with vegetable dietary supplements can meet the wants of this fish’s diet.
These combinations will help the fish fend off numerous digestion-related diseases, notably those associated with the gut. Some meals that may be fed to them are:
Flake food
Tablets
Pallets
Fish
Shrimps
Worms
Vegetables
Meaty meals
Live meals
Demasoni Cichlid Spawning
Mouthbrooder which must be in numbers of 12 or extra. At one inch a feminine will begin to brood however the variety of fry will likely below.
As soon as the dominant male decides to breed, he will turn into severely aggressive and pummel to dying every other male within the tank if the tank is simply too small, or if there’s a lack of hiding locations for the other fish.
Gender: For a primary couple of months juveniles of each sex are the identical dimension and form.
This makes sexing next to impossible unless you vent them. As they grow old, the males will develop elongated ventral fins and an egg spot.
These fish require meals various times a day. Small amounts must be used as a substitute for huge meals. The small quantities of meals are vital to conserving the tank clear for a longer period.
The wasted meals from a giant meal are often more durable to wash and might even trigger over-eating.
Including nutritional vitamins and numerous different dietary supplements in the meals can even have constructive results on the health of the fish.
They shouldn’t be stored with fish with a special diet. This might result in the demasoni cichlid consuming different meals which would result in numerous issues and illnesses.
Demasoni Cichlid Aquarium Setup
The streams that circulate into Lake Malawi have a high mineral content. This together with evaporation has resulted in alkaline water that’s extremely mineralized.
Lake Malawi is thought for its clarity and stability so far as pH and different water chemistries. It’s easy to see why it is very important to watch tank parameters with all Lake Malawi fish.
Rift lake cichlids want hard alkaline water however aren’t found in brackish waters. Salt is usually used as a buffering agent to extend the water’s carbonate hardness.
This cichlid has some salt tolerance so may be stored in barely brackish water circumstances. Nevertheless, it not suited to a full brackish water tank.
It can tolerate a salinity that’s about 10% of a normal saltwater tank, a selected gravity of lower than 1.0002.
A 40-gallon tank will work for a single fish, however, 100 gallons or extra will likely be wanted for a gaggle or a combined mbuna tank.
The Demanson’s Cichlid ought to all the time be home in numbers of 12 or extra to assist alleviate excessive aggression by the dominant male in the direction of females or others.
They do superb in both freshwater or brackish freshwater however want good water motion together with very sturdy and efficient filtration.
Sand is the popular substrate, however, some aquarists have also used crushed coral or a mix of gravel and crushed coral.
A substrate of crushed coral or sand used for saltwater tanks can help hold the pH up.
Additionally, they are inclined to dissolves easier than salts. Keeping a better pH, however, implies that ammonia is more lethal, so common water adjustments are a should for these fish.
They want caves and rocks to discover as they are very curious little fish.
Having a number of niches will assist them to have their very own territory, which can be higher for the subdominant females and males.
Moving rocks around occasionally can also assist with an overly aggressive fish.
Minimum Tank Size: 40 gal (151 L) – A minimum of 40 gallons for a single fish, with 100 gallons or extra for a gaggle.
Suitable for Nano Tank: No
Substrate Type: Sand/Gravel Mix
Lighting Needs: Moderate – regular lighting
Temperature: 75.Zero to 82.0° F (23.9 to 27.8° C)
Range ph: 7.6-8.6
Hardness Range: 10 – 18 dGH
Brackish: Generally – Salt will not be discovered of their pure surroundings, however, they do have a slight tolerance, hold ranges beneath 10% – a selected gravity of lower than 1.0002.
Water Movement: Average
Water Region: Middle – These fish will swim within the center areas of the aquarium.
Demasoni Cichlid Social Behaviors
The Demanson’s Cichlid is aggressive and isn’t thought of to be a neighborhood fish. In actual fact, it ought to solely be housed with different aggressive Mbunas.
Only hold them in a community Mbuna designed tank with lots of rock buildings. They’re very territorial, even a half-inch male will chase away a medium dimension fish from his territory.
Don’t home them with ANY fish that has the identical hue or different fish which have bars, together with a yellow with darkish bars. Don’t home with equally colored species, particularly species just like the Dogtooth Cichlid Cynotilapia afra or Kenyi Cichlid Maylandia lombardoi.
You’ll be able to home them with a yellow Mbuna that doesn’t have bars and they are going to be superb.
Some examples of acceptable tankmates are a yellow species of Electric Yellow Labidochromis caeruleus, the Red Zebra Maylandia estherae, and the Cobalt Zebra Maylandia callainos.
This fish is finest stored in a gaggle of 12 or more. The male to feminine ratio can differ, however, there must be a couple of males.
You could have to experiment along with your fish’s temperament to find out what number of males you’ll be able to hold.
Within the wild they reside in giant teams, however, the purpose for the big grouping in captive surroundings is that this bigger quantity will stop the dominant male from focusing his aggression on just some fish, thus resulting in their death. With a big quantity, the subdominant females and males are ‘misplaced within the crowd’.
If the numbers are too low, akin to 5 or 6, a male will systematically kill the others till he’s alone.
There will likely be a dominant male within the group, and as soon as he has established himself, the opposite Demanson’s Cichlids will avoid preventing him. In the event you can’t present the wanted room, it’s best to leave this one on the retailer.
Temperament: Aggressive – Ought to solely be housed with different aggressive Mbunas.
Tank Mates: Same species – conspecifics: Sure – They’re finest stored in a gaggle of 12 or extra. The male to feminine ratio can differ, however, there must be a couple of males.
Peaceful fish (): Threat
Semi-Aggressive (): Monitor
Aggressive (): Safe
Large Semi-Aggressive (): Threat
Large Aggressive, Predatory (): Risk
Slow Swimmers & Eaters (): Risk
Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Risk – is aggressive
Plants: Monitor
Sex: Sexual variations
For a primary couple of months, juveniles of each sex are the identical dimension and form. This makes sexing subsequent to unattainable except you vent them. As they grow old, the males will develop elongated ventral fins and an egg spot.
Demasoni Cichlid Breeding
The dimensions and weight of each gender of a juvenile cichlid are identical. This makes it more durable to maintain track of their genders when they’re young. Nevertheless, because the male cichlid grows, an egg spot turns visible, which will help spot the genders of the fish.
This fish has been extensively bred. Breeding a demasoni cichlid is taken into account straightforward. It’s known as a mouthbrooder and must be in a group of at the very least 12.
The male fish turns extremely aggressive throughout breeding time and might kill different male cichlids.
A big tank is, subsequently, essential to breed these fish safely. An absence of hiding locations may additionally end in issues as a result of their extremely aggressive nature throughout breeding.
The male often adjustments colors throughout breeding. He will circle the feminine and take her to his territory to start out the process.
The feminine can lay around 15 eggs. She’s going to then take the eggs into her mouth. The eggs often hatch in 7 days. They need to be stored at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They begin swimming on their very own when they’re around two weeks previous.
Demasoni Cichlid Tank Mates
The demasoni cichlid is an extremely aggressive fish. It shouldn’t be stored with different species of fish. It isn’t grouped within the class of community fish for that reason. It could possibly solely be stored with different demasoni cichlids.
The tanks where a number of cichlids reside have to have numerous rock formations. The fish ought to be capable of use these rocks to hide.
They’re extremely territorial together with being aggressive. They’ll chase away every other fish from the territory they claim, even when the other fish are greater than them.
They shouldn’t be stored with any fish which may have equivalent hues, bars, or colors. They are often stored with yellow mbunas as a result of they aren’t comparable in color.
The easiest way to maintain this fish is in a group of 12 or more. There must be a couple of males in this group.
The big group helps divert the fish’s aggressive tendencies in order that it may well give attention to specific fish. If they will be provided with the room they require, they shouldn’t be stored as they are going to hold fighting.
Demasoni Cichlid Diseases
The Malawi bloat is, without doubt, one of the greatest issues a demasoni cichlid can encounter.
This illness may be simply contracted if the dietary wants of the fish aren’t met. Thus, high-quality meals must be supplied to stop this illness.
Stale and poor-quality water can lead to numerous diseases akin to ich. If a fish will get ich, it may be handled by growing the water temperature to 30 degrees Celsius for 3 days.
If this doesn’t assist, copper must be used. Numerous copper-based medicines are simply available out there.
The copper levels, nonetheless, must be monitored as an excessive amount of copper within the water may end in different issues.
The demasoni cichlid can even appeal to numerous different illnesses which might be widespread to most fish. Skin flukes and parasite infestations can significantly hurt this fish.
To keep away from most of the illnesses, you want to concentrate on the indicators and signs and hold an eye out for them to supply sufficient care and medication at the required time.
These illnesses may be averted by conserving the water clear and ensuring the dietary needs of the fish are met.
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