Demasoni Cichlid
Common Names: Demasoni Cichlid, Midnight Demasoni
Scientific Name: Pseudotropheus demasoni
Family: Cichlidae
Maximum Size: 3 inches
Life expectancy: 8 years
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Temperature Range: 72-82°F
pH Range: 8.0-9.0
Water hardness: dH 10.0 - 18.0
Temperament: Aggressive
Origin: Lake Malawi
Aquarium Setup:
Communities of a dozen or more fish are recommended to keep aggression at a minimum, so the Demasoni Cichlid needs a really large aquarium! There should be lots of free space for swimming, but also some rock formations to provide hiding places.
To help keep the pH at the required level sand or crushed coral intended for salt water tanks can be used. But, gravel is also an acceptable substrate.
Demasoni’s are very curious fish, providing lots of caves and crevasses will give them places to explore. It will also provide them with places to claim their own territories.
Diet:
These Cichlid’s need a low protein diet that is high in vegetable matter. Meaty foods should be avoided in favor of Cichlid sticks and flakes. You can also feed them spirulina flakes quite frequently.
Tank Mates/Community:
Damasoni’s are aggressive, brutal fish and should be housed in a species tank. They may be housed with other aggressive Cichlids, but should never be kept with other fish of the same colors or that have stripes.
Behavior:
What the Demasoni lacks in size it’s temper more than makes up for. It isn’t uncommon for them to attack fish over twice their size and they’ve been known to wipe out entire communities with no problem at all.
The best chance for success is a species tank with around a dozen Demasoni’s in it. Make sure that there is less males than females, this will help in easing aggression.
Color:
The male Demasoni has stripes of dark blue and black going vertically along his body. There may also be some alternating stripes that are lighter blue or white.
The male will display the typical anal fin spots, while the female won’t have any spots on her anal fin. The females colors won’t be as brilliant as the males.
Breeding:
For optimum spawning results there should be three females to each male.
The female will choose a flat rock to lay her eggs on, she will then pick all the eggs up in her mouth and follow closely behind the male until he releases the sperm and fertilizes the eggs!
The eggs are kept in incubation for a period of about three weeks before the fry are released. Demansoni fry should be fed on a diet of crushed flake food or pellets, daphnia and small brine shrimp.
Interesting Notes:
Unlike most fish, both the males and females of this species have the same color patterns. Although, the males colors are usually somewhat brighter.
Delansons will follow the contour of the aquarium as it swims. They will even swim along the tank decorations almost turning completely upside down at times.
