i have had a Pseudotropheus demasoni for three weeks now. it is 1 1/2'' the tank is 55 gallons there are 4 cichlids in all.water was checked today. everything was fine.all the fish are the same size.for the last 6 days it has been bloated and at the bottom of the tank without moving much at all hasnt eaten in as many days.i have done two treatments with clout. the tank has been running just over a month. 2 weeks with no fish and then added 4 slowly.sometimes the fish actually lays on its side.the other fish show no sign of a problem YET!. today (day 6) when i feed the others the fish tried very hard to swim and eat but that lasted about 20 seconds then the fish sank to the bottom slamming into the gravel! i dont even think it got any food. i only feed them a littli in morning and a little at night. thanks for any help ill try to get a pic up soon!

This post has been edited by help!: Jan 20 2008, 03:10 PM

What are you feeding it? P.Demasoni are Herbivores and feeding them anything that is high in protein will cause bloat, which often proves fatal i'm sorry to say.

More detailed info here: http://www.fishforums.net/content/Cichlids...pheus-Demasoni/

i feed them cichlid gold and cichlid flakes. im not even sure if thats the kind of fish i have . im not good with computer maybe someone could help me get pics up. i have them in the comp. just dont know how to get them on here.

Cichlid Gold will be your problem - that is for Carnivores. i feed my Oscar and Green Terror Cichlid Gold - it's completely wrong for most Mbuna species and definitely for P.Demasoni.

To post pics - you need to use an online hosting service - i use photobucket http://photobucket.com/?link=topmenu

You can upload your pics to the site and then post the web address for the pics here. We can then confirm an ID for you.

I know feeding herbivore fish high meaty protein foods is not good, but what about high veggy proteins ? ive tried looking for low proteins foods before but no luck, is there even such thing ???

Vegetable protein is fine - basically all you want is something rich in Spirulina. Flake, stick or pellet doesn't really matter which. You really need specialised food for Mbuna but there is plenty of it available and it isn't all expensive.

Ok thanks. I asked because ive read a thew times to feed them low protein food, but can never find food thats low protein, its either high meaty protein or high veggy protein.

I currently feed, hikari cichlid pellets (white packet), tetra veggie flakes, malawi spirulina flakes, cucumber once a week, tho they're not keen on lettuce/spinach/peas, shrimp or daphnia once a week. Two feedings per day. Also, one fast day a week.

One of my lfs does a frozen food called 'malawi mix'. Not sure what its ingrediants are though ....

EDIT : just remember'd name of food lol ...

This post has been edited by darrel69: Jan 21 2008, 06:17 PM

It may be that your fish is suffering as a result of the tank being very new. New tank, new filters etc some fish simply don't cope well with it all until everything is matured. Some fish just do better in a matured tank, even if no ammonia or nitrite is present.
I feed my Malawi Spirulina Flakes most days. occassionally they get bloodworm. Never more then once a week. One of my Malawis did get bloat (was years ago when I first got them and fed them meaty food daily), but a swift change of diet and tlc saw him through it. He's still with me now. But yours does not sound like bloat, it sounds more like a swim bladder problem.
If you can move him to a small tank on his own and treat for swim bladder. It'll also ensure he gets a little food every day. Good luck.
P.