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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Addict
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Finally decided on a tank population.
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Master
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Demasoni are much more aggressive than those two species. I'd go with something less aggressive if you really like the other two.
Labs are mildly aggressive and Demasoni are HIGHLY aggressive.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...ies.php?id=849
Here's species article:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/p_demasoni.php
I am not trying to be a party pooper. But too many people have tried to keep these guy with others, under estimating their size.
Last edited by Allie; April 9th, 2008 at 11:28 AM.
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Master
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im envious!
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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My concern is how big is your tank? Isn't it a 55? if so that pop is way to big for your tank. I wouldn't go over 15 cichlids in a 55g tank. Thats our limit and a lot of our mbunas are going to be around 6 inches...
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Master
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steveangela1
My concern is how big is your tank? Isn't it a 55? if so that pop is way to big for your tank. I wouldn't go over 15 cichlids in a 55g tank. Thats our limit and a lot of our mbunas are going to be around 6 inches...
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As long as they have enough filtration and do extra water changes. It won't make a difference. Crowding with LM cichlids is a necessity. |
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Addict
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Quote:
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My concern is how big is your tank? Isn't it a 55? if so that pop is way to big for your tank. I wouldn't go over 15 cichlids in a 55g tank. Thats our limit and a lot of our mbunas are going to be around 6 inches...
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Yes it is a 55g with a fair amount of filtration. I think I'm getting about 750gph filtered, which is above the 10xgph that a lot of cichlid owners recommend.
Yes, I know that the Demasoni are fairly aggressive. I've read quite a few posts on CF of 3" demasoni males chasing a 7" oscar or some such fish away from it's area. I've also been talking with folks extensively there about the demasoni. I did want the fish originally, but was weary of it's aggression. Many have said they keep similar setups and it's not as big an issue, as long as you keep the demasoni population high. I have looked at alternate fish to replace the demasoni, but haven't been able to get much feedback on them yet. As it stands though, the 3 listed are what I would 'like' to see. I'm still doing a lot of reading up though.
edit once more.
From the reading I've done, and what I've been told, the dem's are highly aggressive towards eac h other with the deadly aggression dying off with numbers starting in the 12-14 4 area. Have you had experience otherwise with them Allie? Thanks again for the info. I have read the links you've included a few times already actually. Have a whole folder saved with info on Dema's alone.
Last edited by FL CommunityFans; April 9th, 2008 at 02:06 PM.
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Master
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FL CommunityFans
Yes it is a 55g with a fair amount of filtration. I think I'm getting about 750gph filtered, which is above the 10xgph that a lot of cichlid owners recommend.
Yes, I know that the Demasoni are fairly aggressive. I've read quite a few posts on CF of 3" demasoni males chasing a 7" oscar or some such fish away from it's area. I've also been talking with folks extensively there about the demasoni. I did want the fish originally, but was weary of it's aggression. Many have said they keep similar setups and it's not as big an issue, as long as you keep the demasoni population high. I have looked at alternate fish to replace the demasoni, but haven't been able to get much feedback on them yet. As it stands though, the 3 listed are what I would 'like' to see. I'm still doing a lot of reading up though.
edit once more.
From the reading I've done, and what I've been told, the dem's are highly aggressive towards eac h other with the deadly aggression dying off with numbers starting in the 12-14 4 area. Have you had experience otherwise with them Allie? Thanks again for the info. I have read the links you've included a few times already actually. Have a whole folder saved with info on Dema's alone.
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If you do get them, just a suggestion, don't get the labs. Labs get brave during breeding time & may fight back, and get killed.
I have chosen not to keep them b/c of the problems people I know have had with them. I hate when species are too aggressive. Nothing worse than a beautiful fish chew the eyes out of another. |
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Addict
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Ok, I'll look in to that more. Everyone I know that does keep dema's though, keeps them with labs, and that's the main display at the LFS. They have close to 40 demasoni's and 20-30 labs in a huge tank on the back wall. Thanks again for the advice.
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Master
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FL CommunityFans
Ok, I'll look in to that more. Everyone I know that does keep dema's though, keeps them with labs, and that's the main display at the LFS. They have close to 40 demasoni's and 20-30 labs in a huge tank on the back wall. Thanks again for the advice.
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That's kind of different in that large amounts. I'm not saying don't keep demasoni, just be careful. Remember most LFS employees advice isn't written in gold, they do aren't always right. Mostly never. 
Our favorite lfs has a huge pond and they would put anything & everything in it. Things weren't looking pretty all chewed up. |
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Addict
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Haha, yes. I do understand numbers play a huge difference with these guys. Thanks again for the words of caution. I've honestly been researching dems and labs for the last 3 weeks and been trying to figure out the 3rd for the last week or so. They say dem's are semi-aggressive when kept in high numbers, biut I'm still trying to figure out what that magic number is. I know 12-14 is the minimum you can go and expect them to all survive, and even then there are casualties.
I'm definitely open to more options that have similar color patterns though. I just haven't been able to find something that I like, and that would definitely fit well in the tank. A lot of it depends on the fish's personalities too, or so I have read.
I definitely want either yellow labs or cherry red zebras (not both due to crossbreeding) and the white top hara (Kim from the CF really turned me on to these guys. Very beautiful colors and markings I think) So then I'm left with 1 other species if I stick with numbers of 6-7 of each fish.
People say Johannii and Maingano are pretty aggressive as well, with Mainganos being a bit more toned down in nature, compared to the Johannii. I now have 142 pages of variious info from various sites prtined out and added in to my 'info catalog'. This definitely isn't an easy process, and this is before you actually have the fish!
I must admit though, I'm really liking it, the researching. I've learned more about fish while learning about cichlids then anything ever.
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Master
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All african cichlids seem to have the same personalities. As it's been said on other forums. There is a magic combo out there, we just have to find it on our own.
We've gone thru 20 differnt species trying to ge the right mix.
We have 7 4-6" acei Tanzania, 6 3"cobalt zebra, 5 3" Blue Dolphins, 2 Blue haps(a 6" male and 5"female, who are from the same batch of fry) and a 8" male Red Empress who we are in the process of finding some females for. No one harasses each other...a tiff now & again. We sold a male M.Msobo, b/c he killed our 8" male acei and a 4" Burundi Frontosa, who cost us $40 at 2".
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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We bought a really good book on lake malawi cichlids, its by Ad Konings "Malawi Cichlids in Their Natural Habitat"... it has a ton, literally ton of pics of malawi cichilds, and loads of info on each species of cichlid.... one thing I did notice.. the pics were of actual Malawi cichlids... they were almost all fin nipped in their natural habitat... so its obvious even nature doesn't have the perfect mix, its a good thing though that lake is so big and those guys have an unlimited supply of hiding spots!
Its absolutly amazing to see how many colorful malawi cichlids their are! I couldn't get over it! and the only place they naturally exist is in that lake...
I guess I feel that way about the gbr's... discus... etc... how beauty is found in different places of the world like that.... (sorry off topic)....
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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I have heard of lots of people keeping demasoni and yellow labs together sucessfully. Infact, many people on cichlid forum suggest it. However, it is a highly aggressive fish, so like with any african cichlid you want to keep an eye on things  Here are the two types of africans that I have in with my yellow labs. They are very colorful and one of them has a blue/black coloration similar to demasoni:
http://www.cichlidforum.com/profiles...es.php?id=1567
http://www.cichlidforum.com/profiles...es.php?id=1675
You may have already ordered your fish though. If so, good luck with them and please keep us posted |
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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There are a ton of places where I have read that you want to get cichlids that don't have the same color pattern so they don't want to attack the other cichlid... I have about 5 cichlid keeping books that have said that in stocking malawi cichlids...
Then you have the places where they said keep the same species in a species specific tank....
Honestly, to me its up to the fish keeper... If I have a cichlid that shows to be problemistic I will take it back to the fish store for credit and get one that I know will get along w/ my others... I am though getting rid of my melacromous auratus species.. they are really mean fish...
I have also been told buying them at 2-3 inches and letting them "grow up together" helps them out too.. My mother had a mbuna tank that her fish never fought and they lived for years... she mixed hers just as I have mine...
I am guilty of having a hybrid... I have an OB peacock right now... I found it in a book and wanted one... so I have it.. it fits in w/ my mbunas...
Now I also have a yellow lab in w/ my kenyi, zebras, etc... too.. he is doing fine also..
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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You are definetly right about buying them young and letting them grow up together. I had all kinds of aggression problems when I brought home a mixed selection of 4-6 inch mbuna. I ended up taking them all back the to LFS and getting all 1-2 inch fish (yellow labs and the two types I attached the link to above) and they all get along great and are really peaceful. I even have a lone peacock in with them right now. He was bullied when I had the tank of larger fish, so I wanted to keep him to get him healthy again and he is doing great.
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April 9th, 2008
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Fish Addict
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Quote:
All african cichlids seem to have the same personalities. As it's been said on other forums. There is a magic combo out there, we just have to find it on our own.
We've gone thru 20 differnt species trying to ge the right mix.
We have 7 4-6" acei Tanzania, 6 3"cobalt zebra, 5 3" Blue Dolphins, 2 Blue haps(a 6" male and 5"female, who are from the same batch of fry) and a 8" male Red Empress who we are in the process of finding some females for. No one harasses each other...a tiff now & again. We sold a male M.Msobo, b/c he killed our 8" male acei and a 4" Burundi Frontosa, who cost us $40 at 2".
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Yea, that's exactly why I don't wanna pay large bucks, regarding the other thread, for a bunch of dem's that are 3" long when I can possibly get them at a smaller size for 1/4 of the cost. I'm hoping that if I get an entire population that are young, and have them grow out with each other... hoping being the key word, that aggression will be minimal.
Quote:
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You may have already ordered your fish though. If so, good luck with them and please keep us posted
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I haven't bought any fish yet, and likely won't for at least another month or so. Still doing a lot of reading, plus I want to find a dealer that has all 3 of whatever species I want and I want to get them all at one time at close to the same age. Cards are certainly gonna have to line up just right, but that's why I am waiting and searching still
The Afra you have is very pretty. I've looked and read up on it quite a few times, had honestly even considered stocking it at one point.. then I saw the white top (which is also an afra .. possibly, hasn't been documented yet) and was won over by it.
Thanks again for all the insight and words of personal experience. It definitely helps when trying to make a decision like this |
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April 10th, 2008
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Fish Mentor
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Def one thing you don't want to do is buy a peacock species and put it in w/ a mbuna... like a red top peacock.. the mbuna will pick and pick and eventually kill it.. the peacocks just will not fight back.. We have a sep peacock tank so we can have our pretty peacocks....
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April 10th, 2008
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Fish Master
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steveangela1
We bought a really good book on lake malawi cichlids, its by Ad Konings "Malawi Cichlids in Their Natural Habitat"... it has a ton, literally ton of pics of malawi cichilds, and loads of info on each species of cichlid.... one thing I did notice.. the pics were of actual Malawi cichlids... they were almost all fin nipped in their natural habitat... so its obvious even nature doesn't have the perfect mix, its a good thing though that lake is so big and those guys have an unlimited supply of hiding spots!
Its absolutly amazing to see how many colorful malawi cichlids their are! I couldn't get over it! and the only place they naturally exist is in that lake...
I guess I feel that way about the gbr's... discus... etc... how beauty is found in different places of the world like that.... (sorry off topic)....
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I got that book 2 years ago. I call it the Malawi bible. |
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