Demasoni Cichlid fish are vibrant and stunning additions to any aquarium due to their sharp patterns and bright colors.
Moreover, these creatures boast spunk and personality, making them popular in the community.
If you want to add other fish to supplement your aquarium, it’s better to consider the Demasoni Cichlid tank mates.
This article will recommend five common species to house with your Demasoni Cichlids. Let’s scroll down to learn more!
Contents
Demasoni Cichlid Overview
Before learning about the Demasoni Cichlid tank mates, it’s better to get an overview of this species.
Appearance
The Demasoni Cichlids are well-known for their eccentric behavior and attractive, angular form.
Their torpedo body is typically long. Due to their small size, fish enthusiasts may regard them as Dwarfs.
These creatures have vertical bars with five light colors and six dark ones behind their gill cover and a black line at the end of their tail.
Both females and males are dark blue, but the male fish feature egg dots on their abdominal fin while female ones don’t.
Behavior
Demasoni Cichlid fish are aggressive and territorial. Thus, it’s advisable to house them in groups of 12 individuals to diffuse combative behaviors among males.
Size
The Demasoni Cichlids typically grow to a length of 3.0 inches in nature. In captivity, they can reach 3.9 inches with proper diet and care.
Males are larger than females. You can watch this video to distinguish them:
Lifespan
With proper care, Demasoni Cichlids may survive up to ten years in captivity. Hence, they are an excellent choice for people searching for a long-term companion.
Demasoni Cichlid Care Guides
If you are a novice aquarist, it’s not a good idea to start with Demasoni Cichlids because they aren’t easy to care for.
Tank Size & Setup
The tank size will vary, depending on the fish number you prefer to keep. Due to their aggressiveness, it’s best to house these creatures in groups of 12 or more.
If you keep them alone, the ideal tank size for Demasoni cichlids is at least a 40-gallon tank capacity.
If you want to house a group of Demasoni cichlids, you must prepare an aquarium of more than 100 gallons.
These creatures are territorial. Thus, add stacked rocks in your aquarium to create passageways and caves to lessen aggression and offer enough space for all.
Moreover, you can use a soft sandy substrate in your aquarium to maintain the hardness and pH levels of the water.
Install a decent filter to ensure the water is heavily mineralized and alkaline. Remember to perform 30% water changes weekly.
Water Parameter
These creatures live in crystal clear water with stability in nature. Hence, it would be best if you created a similar environment for your aquarium to make them healthy and happy.
You can consider the following water parameters:
- Temperature: 75 – 82℉
- pH levels: 7.6 – 8.8
- Hardness: 10 – 25 H
- Ammonia: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: <20 ppm
- Nitrite: 0 ppm
Diet
Cichlids from the Demasoni genus are omnivores but strongly prefer eating plants. The following foods are beneficial for these creatures:
- Blanched vegetables
- Blackworms
- Brine shrimp
- Cichlid flake/pellets
- Aufwuchs
- Spirulina algae
- Zooplankton
- Insect larvae
- Mites
- Small crustaceans
- Dried seaweed
- Nymphs
- Snails
Diseases
Bloat and Ich are among the most common Demasoni Cichlid illnesses caused by poor tank maintenance.
Demasoni Cichlid Tank Mates
These creatures are aggressive and territorial, so it’s not a good idea to house them with different fish species.
Besides, it would be best if you didn’t keep them with fish featuring equivalent colors, hues, or bars.
The ratio between females and males is not crucial in a big group. Depending on the behaviors of the male, you may want to add more males to a group.
However, it’s unsuitable for keeping 5 to 6 individuals as the male will show his aggressiveness to smaller creatures and kill them until no one is alive in the aquarium.
The best tank mates for these fish are the members of their families. It’s advisable to house a group of at least 12 individuals.
However, if you still want to add other species to enhance and beautify your aquarium, let’s consider the following options:
- Iodotropheus
- Electric Yellow Cichlid
- Smaller Pseudotropheus
- Red Zebra
- Cobalt Zebra
Demasoni Cichlids and these fish have the same tank conditions. Their colors combined with blue tones will create a pleasant visual experience.
Additionally, you should avoid housing these creatures with the species mentioned below:
- Pseudotropheus saulosi
- Labeotropheus cichlids
- Melanochromis cichlids
- Cynotilapia
- Metriaclima
- Mphanga
- Dogtooth
- Kenyi
FAQs
How Big Does A Demasoni Cichlid Get?
These fish can grow about 3 inches in the wild. They may reach 3.9 inches long in captivity if adequately cared for and maintained.
How Long Do Demasoni Cichlids Live?
The longevity of these aquatic creatures is relatively more extended than other species. They can live up to more than ten years.
Is Demasoni Cichlid Aggressive?
The short answer is yes! These fish are highly aggressive and hostile, so they may attack and kill other species, tiny and peaceful creatures.
How Many Demasoni Can You Keep?
It’s advisable to house these fish in a school of at least 12 individuals to diffuse antagonistic behavior.
Can You Mix Cichlid Species?
These species are aggressive. However, if you offer suitable water and tank conditions, you can successfully keep them together.
Final Thoughts
Demasoni Cichlids are territorial and aggressive to other creatures. Thus, you should think carefully before adding any new species to this tank.
Generally, the ideal tank mates for these fish may include Iodotropheus, Electric yellow Cichlid, smaller Pseudotropheus, red Zebra, or Cobalt Zebra.
Never house the species with the same bars, colors, or tones as these Cichlids to prevent battles.
Remember that Demasoni Cichlids are not a reasonable option if you are a beginner aquarist because they require highly demanding water and tank requirements.
If you know other suitable tank mates, please comment below to let us know. Thanks for taking the time to read it!
