[JessiLou]

I finally made it to the lfs today. I took back 10 fish and bought 9 more. I got 7 very tiny demasoni. They are so small, I am surprised they sold them to me. Right now they are in my 10 gallon because I was afraid to put them in the main tank. I also bought two more yellow labs. I took back 4 auratus, 3 kenyi and 3 albino socolofi. Here is my new stock list.

11 demasoni (will get more, but they only had 7 today)
6 Yellow labs (2 male, 4 unknown)
4 saulosi (1m, 3 f)
4 red zebra (1m, 3f) + 2 fry

I know I need to split up the yellow labs and the red zebras. That will happen soon when I move the dems and labs to their own home. Then I can add some new fish to the zebras and saulosi. Is this a better set up than I had? I am now down to the 4 different cichlids instead of 7. Once I move the dems and labs, I want to get something not as common as the rest of the fish I have.

 

[DJRansome]

Sounds like you will have two tanks, what are the dimensions of each?

 

[JessiLou]

they are both 48 x 18 x21. I don't have the second one, but it will be here soon and I am cycling the filters for it on my other tanks now.

 

[JessiLou]

ughhh I put the 7 very tiny demasoni in the 10 gallon. It has enough hiding spots for each but it isn't working. I left for 2 hours and now one has no fins left. Ok, it has fins but there are big pieces missing. They are not even a half inch yet. I have 4 in my main tank and they have never attacked any fish including each other. I have no clue what to do now. Obviously the 10 gallon isn't working. What do I do with these fish now?

 

[emptyhead]

ughhh I put the 7 very tiny demasoni in the 10 gallon. It has enough hiding spots for each but it isn't working. I left for 2 hours and now one has no fins left. Ok, it has fins but there are big pieces missing. They are not even a half inch yet. I have 4 in my main tank and they have never attacked any fish including each other. I have no clue what to do now. Obviously the 10 gallon isn't working. What do I do with these fish now?

I just grew out 12 demasoni in a 10g till they were 1-2". They stake out territory very early. When it comes to demasoni - add more rocks. Load up your 10g with rocks, not very big ones, smaller than tennis balls. You can try removing rocks over time and see how it goes. That being said - you could have a tank full of rocks and they may still kill each other, if you have too many males especially.

 

[Dewdrop]

Gosh sorry to hear you're having problems with them already. I've never had dems so I can't help. I would have kept the albino socolofi and got a few more of them too. I think they would look good with demasoni and probably get along ok with them too but don't know that for sure, like I said I've never had dems but have had the albino socolofi for almost a year and like them alot.

 

[JessiLou]

It's not that I don't like my socolofi, it is just that I had too many different cichlids in one tank. I chose my 4 favorites. Everyone seems happy now and no one is hiding so I guess it worked.

 

[dielikemoviestars]

That should be a fine combination, once you add to those dems.

I wouldn't worry about the YL and RZ unless you want to distribute fry. The only issue is cross-breeding, not compatibility.

 

[JessiLou]

I am up to 11 demasoni now. How many should I have? I was shooting for 12-14

 

[dielikemoviestars]

That's what I was thinking, too. 14 should be good.

 

[emptyhead]

I am up to 11 demasoni now. How many should I have? I was shooting for 12-14

You should be okay with 11 for a time, within 6 months you could be adding juvies that you raise, then populate your tank with fish you raise instead of spending a lot on buying them. They will breed like crazy.

I had started with 24 in a 55g, but lost more than half to bloat. I then bred them and reintroduced the new fish to the population. When I sold them - I had over 30, not including the fry that I kept and have now added back to my 55g. I have a dozen and they are doing great. You could easily keep over 20 demasoni in a 55g.

 

[DJRansome]

She might not have fry in six months if they are tiny initially. Several of us waited a year for our first fry. I'd get the extras now.