[masonv]

http://db.tt/KwrR1PU

I want to stock 24 juvenile demasoni and 10 to 12 yellow labs. Will this be enough rock work and caves for this amount of demasoni. If not I have more rock to use but don't want to if everyone thinks this will be just fine.

Above is the link for the picture of my tank. It is a 75 gallon.

Thank you

 

[Stumpjumper]

I counted around 16 caves.. The only time my fish are all in the caves at once is at night. I would say probably but I have very limited experience with cichlids. You might have have a lot of scuffles over who gets the spots when they want them though.

 

[xxbenjamminxx]

If it were me I would add some more. With 24 Dems alone they will want more room to hide to themselves. I have less than that and way more rocks, and still seems to have some ones that have no place to go when the Dom male starts his breeding behavior. Remember this is just my opinion.

 

[AlphaWild]

With dems, I think you get as wide a variety of experiences as any african. What I gleaned from others was either go with no rock, or all the rock you possibly can. I chose to go with the latter. I know my tank pic on here doesn't show it (I really need to update those). One thing I'll note about your pic is, don't expect them to hide in the openings you created. When they want to hide, they'll pick the tightest crevice they can wedge themselves into. If you dont want to add rock but have more on hand, I say wait and see how things go, and if it looks like individuals are getting harassed, you can add more later.

 

[GTZ]

I would add more. Try not to build a structure, just put them in and stack about halfway up the back. You'll end up with a more natural look as well as smaller caves.

 

[brucem]

I would go with less rock and create two or three separate piles. I've experimented with rock piles and caves and found with my demasoni when you create a long continuous rock pile, each male will try and own the lot resulting in lot of fights and deaths. But smaller separate piles, even individual rocks works well and each male will claim a smaller territory.

I use a combination of individual rocks, small caves made out of bathroom tiles and fake plants as screens.

I would also recommend going with 1 male or more than 3.

Bruce

 

[masonv]

So i take it what i have set up might not work huh. Well my tank is cycling (fishless) right now when it is completely done with it cycle maybe Ill do a little more to it. I originally wasn't going to go with demasoni, but i cant get over how nice they look. So i don't know

 

[longislandmbuna]

thats fine imo

 

[DJRansome]

So i take it what i have set up might not work huh. Well my tank is cycling (fishless) right now when it is completely done with it cycle maybe Ill do a little more to it. I originally wasn't going to go with demasoni, but i cant get over how nice they look. So i don't know

I think you have gotten good advice. I like the way the rocks look on the right, but the caves are too big for mbuna, not just demasoni. The fish like really close-fitting caves so in your tank the arrangement on the right is better than that on the left...but even those on the right need to be closer and more voluminous.

The males want a patch of substrate surrounded by rocks you can't see through. Like a cubicle...no roof. If they can't see the neighbor male, it's as if he does not exist...at least for periods of time. Females will hover overhead.

The females will use the "caves" the most, but more to dash through them in the attempt to lose a pursuer. So think alleys in a car chase as opposed to caves.