mouthbreeders
- Thread starter josh131
- Start date
are we talking about a 20 long, or a 20 high?
Either way, demasoni and S. fryeri(electic blues) are out.
Id go with shelldwellers.
Either way, demasoni and S. fryeri(electic blues) are out.
Id go with shelldwellers.
20g is 20g. it is either tall or long. the africaaners need long tank for swimming.
Even in 50G tank, you are limited to smaller mbunas and only like 8-10.
The tank choice for any fish goes like this.
Get the biggest tank you have space and money for. Then research hard and add the minimum numkber of fish you would be happy with. That should be good set up.
I started with a 50G. i now only recommend 6 foot long tanks as minimum for africaaners.
Even in 50G tank, you are limited to smaller mbunas and only like 8-10.
The tank choice for any fish goes like this.
Get the biggest tank you have space and money for. Then research hard and add the minimum numkber of fish you would be happy with. That should be good set up.
I started with a 50G. i now only recommend 6 foot long tanks as minimum for africaaners.
Hard to argue with the scholar (I mean, he IS a scholar, after all! 
) but I disagree about need a 6 foot tank for africans. That's not bad advice for larger Haps, but mbuna will do fine in 75, which is only 4' long. A 55 is OK, but the extra footprint of a 75 really helps.
The concensus, it seems, is that a 20 (or even a 30) is too small.
Best,
Jim
) but I disagree about need a 6 foot tank for africans. That's not bad advice for larger Haps, but mbuna will do fine in 75, which is only 4' long. A 55 is OK, but the extra footprint of a 75 really helps.The concensus, it seems, is that a 20 (or even a 30) is too small.
Best,
Jim
I agree. A 4 footer would be the minimum. There are plenty of 55 gallon mbuna and Aulonocara setups that work great.
I found a 55 gallon tank at walmart for $160.00. How many Pseudotropheus demasoni can I have in a 55 gallon if I get a really nice bio wheel filter? Thanks.
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I have 11 mbuna in a 55g including two demasoni, plus a slowly building stock of babies...
My tank has a very extensive rock network and I have not had any aggression problems. You'll need to choose the right substrate and rock too. Aragonite or coral sand substrates will help keep your ph and hardness in the right range. And limestone based rock will also do the same. They like to dig caves under the rock so make sure the rocks are sitting solidly on the bottom (on egg crate) so it doesn't topple over on them. Also the sand brings this interesting behaviour out. It is very interesting watching them suck up sand, swim somewhere else and spit it out. I regularly have sand up on top of soem of the high rocks, but can't figure out which one is putting it up there. I'm not sure if I'd see this behaviour with crushed coral substrate.
As for filters, I have two eheim 2213 canisters on it. I'd recommend them over the emperors (which I've also had several of). I have to do lots of water changes to try to keep a handle on the nitrAtes. I have a decent colony of Malaysian trumpet snails that help with the algae. They are a great addition to just about any tank IMO. I have a couple of sword plants in there that are doing pretty well. The water is too hard for most plants though AFAIK.
For contrast, I think I'd go with maybe a male and 4 fem demasoni and maybe the same with yellow labs. I think read somewhere that demasoni are difficult/impossible to sex though - not sure...
Good luck!
My tank has a very extensive rock network and I have not had any aggression problems. You'll need to choose the right substrate and rock too. Aragonite or coral sand substrates will help keep your ph and hardness in the right range. And limestone based rock will also do the same. They like to dig caves under the rock so make sure the rocks are sitting solidly on the bottom (on egg crate) so it doesn't topple over on them. Also the sand brings this interesting behaviour out. It is very interesting watching them suck up sand, swim somewhere else and spit it out. I regularly have sand up on top of soem of the high rocks, but can't figure out which one is putting it up there. I'm not sure if I'd see this behaviour with crushed coral substrate.
As for filters, I have two eheim 2213 canisters on it. I'd recommend them over the emperors (which I've also had several of). I have to do lots of water changes to try to keep a handle on the nitrAtes. I have a decent colony of Malaysian trumpet snails that help with the algae. They are a great addition to just about any tank IMO. I have a couple of sword plants in there that are doing pretty well. The water is too hard for most plants though AFAIK.
For contrast, I think I'd go with maybe a male and 4 fem demasoni and maybe the same with yellow labs. I think read somewhere that demasoni are difficult/impossible to sex though - not sure...
Good luck!
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Mbuna are diggers, and you'll see digging behavior whether you use gravel, crushed coral or aragonite sand. That makes it very important to avoid placing rockwork on top of the substrate. The chances of a rockslide are too great if you do that.
I've never had any luck keeping demasoni in small numbers. They always pick off each other, one at a time. I've had much better luck, and few losses, keeping them in numbers of at least 9-12. Demasoni can be sexed - by venting - but you have to know what you're doing. Also, the females are as aggressive as the males, so the normal male-female ratio suggestions don't hold up with demasoni, IME.
I agree that yellow labs are good tankmates. They seem to get along fine with demasoni and the colors contrast nicely.
HTH,
Jim
I've never had any luck keeping demasoni in small numbers. They always pick off each other, one at a time. I've had much better luck, and few losses, keeping them in numbers of at least 9-12. Demasoni can be sexed - by venting - but you have to know what you're doing. Also, the females are as aggressive as the males, so the normal male-female ratio suggestions don't hold up with demasoni, IME.
I agree that yellow labs are good tankmates. They seem to get along fine with demasoni and the colors contrast nicely.
HTH,
Jim
