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Hi all,

For those who read my last post, you'll know that I recently had to trade in my Venustus as it stressed/starved my demasoni's to death.

I lost 3 while it was in the tank, and 2 since I removed it. Of my original 7 demasoni, I now have 2 left.

So, I have 3 yellow labs, 2 demasoni's and 1 mpanga.

All the fish are still quite timid, and will not feed on floating spirulina as they are too afraid to swim to the top of the tank.

I feed them sinking pellets which they eat just fine.

First question...will they regain thier confidence? Right now, there is very little movement in the tank - its sad.

Second - what other tank mates can I add to the tank once things have settled down?

72G Bowfront. 1 Sunshine Peacock, 2 Yellow Labs, 1 Ps. Elongatus, 1 Blue Ahli, 1 Red Kadanga, 1 Mel. Exasperatus, 1 metriaclima emmiltos, 1 Ancistrus.

14.5G 4 Neon Tetras.

Best get them feeding well and let them get some confidence back before adding anything else but when they're OK again you could add some of the more placid Mbuna such as any of the types of Acei or maybe Rusties (Sprengrarae) or Hongi.

Is there any possibility that the water chemistry is affecting the fishes ability to overcome the stress?

I haven't done a water change in 13 days, and haven't checked pH in a month. Things were very stable prior to the Venustus going postal.

I plan on doing a water change ASAP, but havent had the time this week.

Will it help?

72G Bowfront. 1 Sunshine Peacock, 2 Yellow Labs, 1 Ps. Elongatus, 1 Blue Ahli, 1 Red Kadanga, 1 Mel. Exasperatus, 1 metriaclima emmiltos, 1 Ancistrus.

14.5G 4 Neon Tetras.

If they're eating a good sinking pellet then don't worry. The number one thing is to get more demasoni in there. A dozen more would be the minimum I would add. A few more yellow labs would help also. I doubt that unless your ammonia or nitrite are high that your water parameters are affecting them. Unless you're adding buffer or have bad oxygenation your ph will change much. I haven't done a ph test on a fw tank for years.

I have heard that a minimum of 12 demasoni should be kept together, but I am concerned about the size of my tank?

Its a 72G bowfront tank....so to add 12 more and some more labs, I am afraid it would push my tank and filter too much?

Maybe I should consider shifting from demasoni to socolofi or some other pseudotropheus?

I am looking for a greater combination of fish as opposed to 2 species.

72G Bowfront. 1 Sunshine Peacock, 2 Yellow Labs, 1 Ps. Elongatus, 1 Blue Ahli, 1 Red Kadanga, 1 Mel. Exasperatus, 1 metriaclima emmiltos, 1 Ancistrus.

14.5G 4 Neon Tetras.

So I lost another Demasoni yesterday morning. It just would not eat....sinking pellets, spirulina, algae....ntohing. It just hid in the cave.

So I am down to 1 demasoni left - ironically, it was the smallest of my 7 originals.

I think now I am gonna switch gears away from demasoni, and maybe move to a differnt pseudotropheus - or even something completely different.

I do like the blue and yellow contrast though (pseudo's with labs).

But I am open to any other combinations that people have found works well.

72G Bowfront. 1 Sunshine Peacock, 2 Yellow Labs, 1 Ps. Elongatus, 1 Blue Ahli, 1 Red Kadanga, 1 Mel. Exasperatus, 1 metriaclima emmiltos, 1 Ancistrus.

14.5G 4 Neon Tetras.