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Demasoni mbuna (Pseudotropheus demasoni) — Cichlidae

Demasoni mbuna

Pseudotropheus demasoni
Family: Cichlidae

The Demasoni mbuna (Pseudotropheus demasoni) is a fish of the family Cichlidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6.3 cm
Depth
2–15 m
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Lake Malawi
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The demasoni mbuna is a small rock-dwelling cichlid (mbuna) from Lake Malawi in East Africa, recently also placed in the genus Chindongo. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a vivid cobalt-blue body with alternating dark-blue and light-blue vertical bars. As a rock-dweller it lives in the shallow, rocky shore zone and grazes aufwuchs, the algal film on the stones, with fine teeth. It is a mouthbrooder and strongly territorial. The fish is harmless to humans and is prized in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Demasoni mbuna?

The Demasoni mbuna is mainly blue and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Bright blue with vertical stripes; territorial mouthbrooding mbuna

Where does the Demasoni mbuna live?

The Demasoni mbuna is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Lake Malawi

How big does the Demasoni mbuna get?

The Demasoni mbuna grows to a maximum of about 6 cm. On average the species is around 4 cm.

Is the Demasoni mbuna dangerous to humans?

No, the Demasoni mbuna is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Demasoni mbuna edible?

The Demasoni mbuna is not usually eaten.

More photos

Demasoni mbuna (Pseudotropheus demasoni) — Cichlidae — 2
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Demasoni mbuna (Pseudotropheus demasoni) — Cichlidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Mario Rubio García from Tarancón, España (CC BY 2.0)
Demasoni mbuna (Pseudotropheus demasoni) — Cichlidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Emőke Dénes (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Demasoni mbuna (Pseudotropheus demasoni) — Cichlidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) eugenezakharov, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Demasoni mbuna sourced
Scientific name
Pseudotropheus demasoni
Family
Cichlidae
Other names
Dwarf mbuna sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small
Max length (cm)
6.3 verified
Average length (cm)
3.8 sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2 sourced
Max depth (m)
15 sourced
Natural range
Lake Malawi sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Aufwuchs and algae inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Rock-dwelling mbuna; mouthbrooder, present year-round. sourced
Special features
Bright blue with vertical stripes; territorial mouthbrooding mbuna sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Pseudotropheus

More from the family Cichlidae

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