Demasoni cichlid

Overview

The demasoni cichlid, long sold as Pseudotropheus demasoni and now placed in Chindongo, is a tiny mbuna from Lake Malawi found only around a few rocky spots on the Tanzanian shore. It barely tops 3 inches (8 cm), but its bold vertical bars in dark and light blue make it one of the most striking African cichlids.

Its size is misleading: this is one of the most aggressive mbuna, especially toward its own kind and similar-looking fish. Males, and many females too, fight constantly when kept in pairs or small groups. It is not a beginner fish or a choice for someone who just wants "a couple of blue cichlids." It only works with planning, lots of rockwork and a big group.

Care and tank setup

Numbers are everything: keep demasoni in groups of at least 12 so aggression is spread out, in roughly 75-80 gallons (300 liters) with a 4-foot (120 cm) footprint. In small groups the dominant fish often harasses the others to death. Water should be hard and alkaline, as for all Malawi fish.

• Aquascape: rock stacked almost to the surface with many caves and nooks to break lines of sight.
• Plants: practically impossible; they get dug up or eaten.
• Tankmates: other robust mbuna in different colors, such as yellow labs. Avoid blue-barred fish (Maylandia, Melanochromis) and peaceful haps.
• Common mistakes: buying two or three fish, a small tank, or too little rock.

Strong filtration, a heater and weekly 30% water changes keep nitrates low.

Feeding

In the wild demasoni graze aufwuchs, the film of algae and microorganisms on the rocks, so their diet should be mainly plant-based: spirulina or herbivore mbuna pellets, with a little mysis as an occasional treat. Avoid protein-rich foods and overfeeding, both of which encourage Malawi bloat, a common and serious digestive disease in these fish.

Breeding

Demasoni are maternal mouthbrooders and breed readily once the group is settled. The female holds a small clutch, usually 5 to 15 eggs, for about three weeks and then releases independent fry. In a heavily rocked tank some survive on their own. If you want to raise more, move the female before release, because adults will eat the fry.

Compatible tank mates

Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Demasoni cichlid. Calculated from the data in each profile.

Check the compatibility of your whole tank →

What not to keep it with

Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Demasoni cichlid, and why.

• Bristlenose pleco: incompatible pH, incompatible temperaments
• Cherry barb: incompatible pH, incompatible temperaments
• Common goldfish: incompatible temperatures, incompatible temperaments
• Bronze cory: incompatible temperaments
• Panda cory: incompatible temperatures, incompatible pH, incompatible temperaments
• Zebra danio: incompatible temperatures, incompatible temperaments
• Discus: incompatible temperatures, incompatible pH, incompatible water hardness, incompatible temperaments
• Guppy: incompatible temperaments

Recommended equipment

What you need to keep the Demasoni cichlid healthy, checked against Amazon stock.