festaedan
potamotrygon fan
Today i picked up a group of 6 demansoni (2 males and 4 females), the largest being almost four inches and the smallest is just over 2 inches, I'm planning on getting more this weekend. Pics coming soon.
zackcrack00
Members
You definitely want go get more this weekend. At least 8. Frank Cowherd has some at great prices!!! Also, vent to make sure you have at LEAST half males and half females, hopefully more females I have a breeding group of 17, and I feel that the aggression is spread out pretty well. A few ancistrus in the tank will help with algae.
festaedan
potamotrygon fan
thanks, how many could I succesfully keep in a 30?
zackcrack00
Members
What is the footprint? Is it a long/breeder?
Tony
Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
30 is gonna be rough... those are some of the meanest mbuna out there. Do you have a 4' tank available?
festaedan
potamotrygon fan
no, my 4' tank currently has my group of gymnogeos. And Zack, I believe it's a 30
breeder but I'm not sure.
zackcrack00
Members
Hmm... Get a group of about 12, no more than 4 males, and make AT LEAST 20 GOOD hiding places like crevices, etc. Make five good territorial boundaries. And have at LEAST 80 gallons of filtration, and add a sponge filter or two for aeration. Also, I have found that a black background on the tank makes them feel more secure. Hope this helps!!! Oh, and BTW, If you decide to put them in a four-foot tank, they can definitely hold their own against other mbuna. Just read my signature.
festaedan
potamotrygon fan
The tank has about as much texas holy rock and slate that I can fit in there, I'm soon
upgrading the filter to an aqheon 75, and the tank already has a black backround.
At what size will they start spawning? On another forum someone said 1.5 inches.
upgrading the filter to an aqheon 75, and the tank already has a black backround.
At what size will they start spawning? On another forum someone said 1.5 inches.
zackcrack00
Members
Well, they are going to have to adjust for a bit before they start spawning, so wait about a month after adding them. Mine have not spawned yet, but I just put them into the 75g on Sept. 14th. I'd say that they spawn at about 2 inches.
festaedan
potamotrygon fan
thanks, I moved an airator into the tank for extra surface aggitation, they're still a little shy but I'll try to get some pics.
zackcrack00
Members
Haha
Mine and yours sound like complete opposites. They just wouldn't stop trying to kill each other for three seconds so I could take a picture!!!
Mine and yours sound like complete opposites. They just wouldn't stop trying to kill each other for three seconds so I could take a picture!!!
Jmoore
Members
festaedan
potamotrygon fan
That's wierd, mine seem fine together, they swim together, eat together,
and hide together. Hopefully this lasts.
zackcrack00
Members
From experience, I'd suggest the following...
Lots of things can work for keeping demasoni. Some things work for a little time, some things work for a long time.
But no matter what, they are always just one inch from losing their crazy little minds.
Be observant and proactive with them. Make sure you spend 5 minutes and watch them eat. If anyone is not eating, commence daily LARGE water changes right away and if not improved in 1-2 days, commence Metro dosing.
Know who is dominant and who isn't. If a male gets beaten up, watch him. If in 1-2 days he is still losing the fights, you need to pull him. In the long term, more than 1-3 males (depending on tank size and setup) will not work. IME, females can survive a beating - they are more likely to go to ground until they are strong again, and you want to let them do that because getting them back into the tank will be hard once they've been out. In contrast, the males will basically kill themselves trying to defend their spot in the hierarchy - so you need to pull them as soon as it's clear they aren't going to work it out.
Be ready to quarantine fish who are getting in trouble, and accept there is a possibility you will need a larger tank if you want to keep them in the long term.
I have had my colony for nearly 3 years now. They live in a 55gall and I am about to move them to a 125. They go through long periods of stability followed by incredible upheaval for no apparent reason. I'm glad to hear they are getting along - just be ready.
I wish you and your demasoni all the best.
Lots of things can work for keeping demasoni. Some things work for a little time, some things work for a long time.
But no matter what, they are always just one inch from losing their crazy little minds.
Be observant and proactive with them. Make sure you spend 5 minutes and watch them eat. If anyone is not eating, commence daily LARGE water changes right away and if not improved in 1-2 days, commence Metro dosing.
Know who is dominant and who isn't. If a male gets beaten up, watch him. If in 1-2 days he is still losing the fights, you need to pull him. In the long term, more than 1-3 males (depending on tank size and setup) will not work. IME, females can survive a beating - they are more likely to go to ground until they are strong again, and you want to let them do that because getting them back into the tank will be hard once they've been out. In contrast, the males will basically kill themselves trying to defend their spot in the hierarchy - so you need to pull them as soon as it's clear they aren't going to work it out.
Be ready to quarantine fish who are getting in trouble, and accept there is a possibility you will need a larger tank if you want to keep them in the long term.
I have had my colony for nearly 3 years now. They live in a 55gall and I am about to move them to a 125. They go through long periods of stability followed by incredible upheaval for no apparent reason. I'm glad to hear they are getting along - just be ready.
I wish you and your demasoni all the best.
Tony
Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
chriscoli
Administrator
That made me chuckle, too......but seriously.....Wendy knows her stuff when it comes to Demasoni.
dogofwar
CCA Members
The key is a large female-heavy colony of them...
Matt
Matt
zackcrack00
Members
Leffler817
CCA Members
Her Demasoni did win 1st place at ACA. The info she posted is gold.
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