Topic: WOW What Luck!

[aquariumfreak]

Ok so ive been searching the web for a small cichlid that I like (smaller than the electric yellows ive been thinking of). Well I think I found one. Demasoni Cichlids. Everything ive read says they stay at a size of about 3 inches. So my first question is, Could I keep 4 in a 29 gallon tank? If not how many could I keep?

Now onto why this is called WOW What Luck!
     I searched e-bay to see if anyone had these for sale. Well only one auction came up and its 4 of them for $20! Not only did I find this cheap, but the place is a store, that is located in the town I live in! So I wouldnt have to pay any shipping lol 

So after I see what you guys think about this ill probably go check the place out. Heck I might check it out anyway, as acording to the info. on e-bay they have like 50 tanks in the store.

So what does everyone think?

[callen]

Woo Hoo that is Luck!!  Pretty cool it's right there    Please let us know how you made out.  Very happy for you.

[aquariumfreak]

Ya very lucky its so close by. The one thing I think is funny is that I dont remember ever hearing about this store. Well hopefully it turns out to be a nice place.

[JC]

Oh wow that is indeed really fortunate! Not only are they really awesome fish that at one time I would have loved coming across ( never seen 'em in my town) but for that price, seems like quite a steal. Heck you only get an Oscar for that where I am. A sick one at that 

[Gerry]

Great news on the find it's a great feeling finding a fish you have been after for a while.

Can't help on the numbers though sorry.

Go see the store if its local 

[johnl]

Boy that sure is luck. Hope it all works out for you.

[dustbowl_debutante]

Four demasoni for $20 IS a good deal.

However...  I have some recent personal experience with these "cute little fishies."  I got mine as juveniles (a total of nine of them) and they got along great, gave my tank some beautiful color and were fun to watch.  Then, they started getting bigger and the problems began.  Long story short, one grew up into the dominant male and killed the rest (at a rate of one fish per day), then he just kinda drifted around in the tank for about a week and then died.  So at $8 per fish, with 9 fish, I lost $72.  Down the drain.  Just like that.  Here is my old post from when the massacre began.  I got some really great advice about demasoni from lots of folks on here, and some of it might help you out with your decision:

http://www.worldcichlids.com/yabbse/index.php/topic,14464.0.html

I have always heard to keep these in a group of at least 6 (with some folks telling me a group of no less than 30!) in order to stem the aggression.  They are also supposed to only be aggressive toward their own kind. 

Best of luck to you, whatever you choose!   

[Ezekial]

That is good luck.   

I'm no african cichlid expert by any means but from what I remember Demasoni's are quite aggressive and need to be in large groups to spread that aggresssion around.  I have no idea if 4 in a 29 gallon would work for sure but I would guess that it won't.  You might be able to mix a demasoni with some others but i'll wait for someone who knows more about them to talk about that. 

[Stormbringer]

thats good luck hope they work out well for ytou 

[altaaffe]

Dustbowl pretty much said it, it is a good deal but they, as with most mbuna, are pretty intolerant of their own kind.  Therefore the larger numbers are needed in order that no single individual receives all the aggression.

As said earlier though, unfortunately a 29g is on the small side for Mbuna.

[tommyc]

I hate my first post to be in the negative mode but I have no choice here. What has already been said about aggression with the  Pseudotropheus demasoni double it these are nasty little buggers and in a 29 gal don't expect any to live to long.
They don't like their own species very much and will not tolerate each other in such cramped quarters.
I am sorry aquariumfreak but find something else have you thought about setting up your 29 as a Shellie tank the  Neolamprologus multifasciatus from Lake Tanganyika is a beautiful and interesting fish with a great personality. It is billed as the smallest Cichlid in the world and had bright blue eyes This fish is fantastic to watch while mating and will mate regularly.
Here check this link out.

http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_Neolamprologus_multifasciatus.php

Sorry about the Demasoni but it's not too good of a deal if they all die prematurely.
Tom.

[aquariumfreak]

Ya with what ive read about demasoni needing LARGE groups (atleast 12 fish) I didnt think they would work out in my tank. The ones you mentioned, the multies, seem very interesting. They are small and even though not real colorful are still an interesting little fish. Since they stay at about a size of 1.5 inches (wow thats a small cichlid!!!  ) I could probably have a small colony of them. The only problem would be if I can get them in my area. Also ill have to swithch out my substate. O well though thats not too much work.

Actually its never to hard or too much work to make a good home for your fish.  Right? lol

[Gerry]

Hope you can find the multies, shame about your demasoni but better to find out before they all kill each other so good on you for researching first 

Actually its never to hard or too much work to make a good home for your fish.  Right? lol

Right 

[dustbowl_debutante]

I don't know about other lfs, but mine will try to order in for me whatever I want - if their supplier can get it.  So, if you're having a hard time finding the multies, you may try ebay or aquabid - and there may very well be other auctions that I am unaware of - to find them, but then you will incur shipping charges.  But you also might ask your lfs if they would be willing to order the multis in with their next order/shipment for you.  I don't know where you are located (I'm in Oklahoma), but I also know of a guy here who can order just about anything, and he will ship anywhere in the US.  So, if you can't seem to find them, PM me and I will give you his email addy.

Good luck!

[tommyc]

so good on you for researching first 

What he said, when you decide to keep fish the first rule of thumb is research, research, research and research some more and when you have done all that do some more research.
Ya you must have a sand bottom for multies I used pool filtering sand for mine and it worked out great for them. I do believe if you do go with multies you wont be disappointed. Good luck.
Tom.