Demasoni Cichlid

• ExerciseVery high

  A powerful swimmer that needs a long tank and real swimming space.

• GroomingAttentive tank care

  Sensitive to water quality — stay on top of testing and maintenance.

• Living spaceNano-tank friendly

  Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment6–10 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Bloat (GDV) · Ich (white spot) · Fin rot

Demasoni (Chindongo demasoni, formerly Pseudotropheus demasoni) is endemic to Pombo Rocks in Lake Malawi and stays small at about 7 to 8 cm. Males and females look alike, both wearing the same alternating dark and light blue vertical bars, which makes sexing difficult and usually requires venting adults. Its natural range is tiny, so almost all fish in the trade are tank-bred. Keep it at 24-27C, pH 7.8 to 8.6 in hard water, in a 200 litre or larger tank built from broken rock with many small caves. Diet is strictly vegetable-led: spirulina flake, algae wafers and blanched greens, with minimal protein. The species has one non-negotiable rule that catches out most new keepers: it is savage towards its own kind in small numbers, so it must be kept either as a single specimen or as a group of twelve or more, never as three or four. A group spreads the aggression around; a trio ends with one survivor. Ideal tankmates are similarly sized mbuna, and it should never be mixed with the similar-looking saulosi, which it will target.

• How active is a Demasoni Cichlid?

  Very high. A powerful swimmer that needs a long tank and real swimming space.

• How much maintenance does a Demasoni Cichlid need?

  Attentive tank care. Sensitive to water quality — stay on top of testing and maintenance.

• What tank size does a Demasoni Cichlid need?

  Nano-tank friendly. Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Is a Demasoni Cichlid a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Demasoni Cichlid live?

  6–10 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Demasoni Cichlid?

  Keep an eye out for Bloat (GDV), Ich (white spot), Fin rot. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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