So here I am, trying to unload my Mbuna tank because I am so completely obsessed (addicted might be a better word) with the saltwater/reef keeping side of the hobby and don't stop to enjoy the tank much...

Today I stopped to take a good look into the tank, which I haven't done in ages, and I see a little fry. Well, at quick look, I see a small fish, with stripes, and a body type similar to all the Ps. species I keep. Then he swam out from the shadow... and he's blue! Son of a... my Demasoni are spawning! I told myself before that if they started spawning I might start raising fry again (but just them) - I love Dems and think they're easier to trade/sell than Acei/Elongatus (damn brown females).

So, now I have a little blue Dem fry swimming around, maybe more if I look under rocks.. and I'm pretty excited. Now I just want to cut down my tanks population a bit. I don't think my hides vs population is adequate, there's lots of white mouths, nipped fins, missing scales... I think I want to get rid of most of my Acei, except maybe 1 of the large (6") guys, and a couple smaller ones, and maybe my Elongatus and just keep a population of Demasoni, Yellow & White labs, and a few Acei.

Oh, and the original Dem of my colony that I got around 1.5yrs or so ago... Wow is the color vibrant! Def became the Alpha male of that group, sporting his "hey ladies.... how YOU doin?" colors.

Why'd the Dems have to go and spawn?

Glad to hear the Demasoni spawned.......if for nothing else, will keep you hangin' around here a little while longer!!

PICS please!!!!

Not an easy little bugger to get a picture of, here's the best I've been able to do. He/she seems to just hang out in this corner of the tank because there's a few rocks that have spaces just big enough for it to get under and not be eaten. Saw an Acei fry even smaller than the Dem down there too yesterday.

Wow! Look how vibrant he is! Congrats on the surprise spawn!!

Yesterday I decided to move all the rock since I hadn't been able to vacuum under it in months and I knew it must have been a mess. Well, while doing so, I moved the rocks where this little dude was hanging out... and he came floating by... not swimming by.

Since he was healthy all day before it, best I can figure is that I must have accidentally crushed him when I was moving the rocks. I feel terrible. And I didn't find any other Dems. Found some Elongatus and Acei around 1/2"-3/4" that I never knew were in the tank, and a bunch of other fry that can't be more than a couple weeks old, but no more Dems. Just gonna keep my eye out for spawning behavior between them and hope I can catch the holding female and separate her out this time.

Bummer about the little Demasoni.......

I'd definately be working to get fry out of them. The one in the pic you posted had incredible color at such a small size.

Hope you get more.....

ya dems are vibrant right from the get go, i love them. Just keep an eye on your female, if you have one. These males are so ridiculously relentless. They WILL chase and kill any other male in the tank and they WILL breed a female over and over to the point of death if there is only one of her.


This post has been edited by bk1300: Feb 7 2010, 08:05 PM

I'm keeping an eye out BK. I have 11 right now, and I can start to see the males v females with whose bigger and more colorful. I think I'm at around 4-5 males. The males just about all have white mouths from fighting, my Elongatus are looking like they've been at war lately as well. Wondering if these two mean groups are having big turf wars when I'm not watching.

Saw some spawning behavior over the weekend between the biggest male and biggest female, but they didn't close the deal.

I'm surprised I still have all 11 still (*knock on wood*) when I added a group of 3 like 1.5 years ago, I was down to 1 in a matter of a week or two. I'm still assuming that it's just a matter of time before I lose some.

unfortunately it is just a matter of time before the males weed out the weak. But if you are doing this good so far maybe you have a good amount of females, which would be awesome. Anyways once they thin the heard the alpha male will start to breed at under 2", they breed very early and small amounting to small clutches.

Best of luck let us know if you have any other questions.

Found a holding female last night!

Now I'm scrambling tonight to get a sponge filter setup in a spare 10g. Tomorrow I was going to break down the rocks to get out some Acei I'm taking to the LFS, so I'm going to try and pull her out while I have it all broken down and get her separated into a 10g. Such a tiny fish to be holding already, I wish she was bigger so I could get more fry.