▷ Demason’s mouthbrooder in the aquarium | All information and details

Data sheet Demason’s mouthbrooder

German name:
Demason’s mouthbrooder

Scientific name:
Chindongo demasoni

Origin:
Africa, Lake Malawi

Size:
Body length 8 cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 80 cm width

Contents:
from 100 liters

water values

Temperature:
25°- 30° C

pH:
7 – 8.5

GH:
5° – 20° dH

Behave

Area:
middle area

Lining:
Omnivore, mostly vegetable

Behave:
aggressive and territorial with conspecifics

Number:
at least 3 animals

Difficulty level:
advanced

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This beautiful freshwater fish is native to Africa, where it lives in Lake Malawi and southern Ruhuhu. Demason’s mouthbrooder has only been commercially available for almost 30 years and was introduced under the name Pseudotropheus demasoni. A few years ago it was assigned to the new genus Chindongo and received its current scientific name.

Look

lee Nightingale, Pseudotropheus demasoni, CC BY 2.0

Its basic color is dark blue and is crossed by turquoise stripes. The body shape is high-backed and flattened on the sides, typical of perch. Except for the pectoral fins, which are transparent, the other fins are mostly blue with turquoise edges.

Posture recommendation

In its original habitat, it feeds on algae and the small animals that live in them. In the aquarium it therefore prefers plant food, but also likes to accept daphnia or mosquito larvae. However, red mosquito larvae should not be used here, as they cause digestive problems and can even lead to death. Demason’s mouthbrooder is sometimes very aggressive towards its own kind and the hierarchy is re-established every day. The natural habitat in Africa is threatened, so this species is now considered endangered.

gender differences

Unfortunately there are no visible differences. Sometimes the females are slightly smaller than the males. An exact determination is therefore only possible via the genital papilla.

breed

To increase the spawning mood of Chindongo demasoni, the water temperature should be around 28°C. Good feeding of the animals is recommended for a period of time. The female takes the laid eggs in her mouth and this is where the young fish hatch. After about 3 weeks they are released from the mother into the pool. This is where further nutrition with Artemia nauplii takes place. The males do not take care of the brood, but they defend their territory.

socialization

A socialization with other fish is difficult, this should only take place with other cichlids from Lake Malawi that have similar attitude parameters. All types of invertebrates are not suitable for socializing with Chindongo demasoni.

Aquarium

Above all, the aquarium should be equipped with a rocky reef. It should definitely be possible to swim through it, and it also offers hiding places. Above all, however, it should also be able to serve as a privacy screen and to limit the territory. Furthermore, a calcareous, finely sandy substrate is recommended and additional limestone promotes the necessary alkaline water values. Only very robust species are suitable for planting, as Demason’s mouthbrooder is a herbivore and can quickly destroy a lush green planting. In addition, there are hardly any plants in its natural habitat, so it is not absolutely necessary to bring plants into the aquarium.

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