Demasoni cichlid care
Chindongo demasoni · Pombo Rocks, Lake Malawi (Tanzanian waters)
Demasoni are small, blue-and-black-barred mbuna from one rocky reef in Lake Malawi, and among the most aggressive fish for their size.
- Tank size
- 55 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 76 to 82 °F (24 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- 12 or more
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Adult size
- 3.9 in (standard length, without the tail)
- pH
- 7.5 to 8.5
- Hardness (GH)
- 10 to 20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 6 to 10 years
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Care level
- Moderate
In a 55 gallon
48¼ × 12¾ × 21 in outsideHow to keep demasoni cichlids
Demasoni are small, blue-and-black-barred mbuna from one rocky reef in Lake Malawi, and among the most aggressive fish for their size. Keep a group of twelve or more in a 55 gallon or larger rock-filled tank of hard, alkaline water at 76 to 82 °F, so no single fish takes all the chasing; only other Lake Malawi cichlids, best other mbuna, can live with them.
Diet: Herbivore: spirulina and vegetable-based cichlid foods. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Bottom of the tank.
Demasoni cichlid tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Every likely tankmate in our list comes with a caution for demasoni cichlids. These can share a large tank if you watch them closely:
Auratus cichlid: Demasoni cichlids and auratus cichlids are both aggressive and may fight.
Rusty cichlid: Demasoni cichlids are aggressive and may fight with rusty cichlids.
Electric blue hap: Demasoni cichlids are aggressive and may fight with electric blue haps.
Yellow lab cichlid: Demasoni cichlids are aggressive and may fight with yellow lab cichlids.
Acei cichlid: Demasoni cichlids are aggressive and may fight with acei cichlids.
Bumblebee cichlid: Demasoni cichlids and bumblebee cichlids are both aggressive and may fight.
Saulosi cichlid: Demasoni cichlids are aggressive and may fight with saulosi cichlids.
Red zebra cichlid: Demasoni cichlids and red zebra cichlids are both aggressive and may fight.
Keep apart
Neon tetra: Demasoni cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as neon tetras.
Cardinal tetra: Demasoni cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as cardinal tetras.
Black neon tetra: Demasoni cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as black neon tetras.
Green neon tetra: Demasoni cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as green neon tetras.
Ember tetra: Demasoni cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as ember tetras.
Glowlight tetra: Demasoni cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as glowlight tetras.
What a demasoni cichlid tank needs
A tank of 55 US gallons or more (such as the 55 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below.
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Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter 200
Rated by the maker for up to 55 US gal, which covers a 55 gallon demasoni cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Seachem Tidal 55
Rated by the maker for up to 55 US gal, which covers a 55 gallon demasoni cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Aqueon Pro 150
Demasoni cichlids need 76 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding demasoni cichlids.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 76 to 82 °F.
More choices, each with the reason it is in or out: Filters for a 55 gallon tank · Heaters for a 55 gallon tank. We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common demasoni cichlid problems
- In a small group the strongest fish hunts down the weakest; twelve or more spreads the aggression.
- They graze algae in the wild: feed spirulina or vegetable-based foods, not rich, meaty food, a common trigger of bloat in mbuna.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Chindongo demasoni. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Demasoni cichlid lee Nachtigal, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Auratus cichlid Vlad Butsky from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rusty cichlid Gerard Delany, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Electric blue hap The Evil Spartan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Yellow lab cichlid Julian Matz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Acei cichlid Toby Hudson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Bumblebee cichlid Nicolas COUTHOUIS, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Saulosi cichlid Gerard Delany, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Red zebra cichlid Maha Dinesh, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Neon tetra Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black neon tetra Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ember tetra Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Glowlight tetra gonzalovalenzuela; cropped by Kyknos, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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