The coloration of jack dempsys

[cichniss]

Hello, i have seen many pics of jds that are nice and dark in their bodies and have alot of spangling all over their bodies. So my question is how can i get my jds to look that good???? They are 5" and 3" is it just that they are too young, are their specific foods that bring out their colors, help??!!

[WolfFisho1]

how long have you had them because they could be stressed . because every time i would move mine he would lighten up for a while but then he would get darker again.

also when he he wasnt on the top of the pecking order he'd become light but when the dominent fish was moved he darkened right back up again!:D

[benzjamin13]

They should show some good color by 6" I feed my Hikari Gold and it's color looked great!

[nuth88]

My Jack was washed out when I had white gravel mixed with Crused Coral, now that I have a All dark water blue background and a black substrate, he is much darker. Now he is not the Alpha Dog in the Tank, which as said may factor in, but when I changed the substrate, he darkened up.

Now for the best colors Rottbo has his Jacks with the standard colors, dark and even some Red Bellys!

Those were the best looking standard Jacks I have ever seen!

:headbang2

[fishfreak317]

i have some really nice jacks. i don't have a "dark" scheme to the tank, their colors are always impressive. natural colors with wood/rockwork. ;) i'd like to rottbo's jacks :D

[chico3611]

Dont know if that is what causes it but I do have a dark scheme to my tank and my JD has some great color. its only 4-5 inches.

[dragonfish]

Mine was very dark in a tank with black sand. Moved her into another tank with natural light colors and she has lightened up quite a bit. Of course so has everyone else.

[AquataHolic420]

cichlid stix...
bloodworms..
Krill...
worms..

work great at growin an colorin em up.
MY pic had an unfair advantage.. it was an EBJD that got mangled baaaad at like an inch long... then he took over a year to grow his fins back...RIP

[WolfFisho1]

all jacks are different like some say they changed color when the subsrate was darker. mine is a light brown subsrate and he is still very dark! someone said that his isnt on the top and is still dark while mine light whenevr not on the top!

but also while fighting with other cichilids mine darkens even more!

[greenbean]

when i took my jaguar out of the tank my dempseys color came out considerably they also swim around alot more but when they are feeling agressive they also darken up nicely

[NY SURF RIDER]

I have 2 female JDs.. They are both bland... grey without much blue speckaling at all beside on the gills. All other fish are attractive and healthy looking.. So maybe they just weren't the pick of the litter

[JeffLeMay]

i think the main thing has less to do with food choice (altough i always fed mine a lot to keep them chunky!) and more to do with keeping the water clean. i found mine to be pretty messy so i did decent sized water changes weekly, and they grew and colored up nicely in a short time

[Gourami Swami]

Dominance, good food, CLEAN WATER, and a large tank will make your JD beautiful.

[mikenjo]

having dark gravel and backround made a huge difference in my jd here's a pic
being the dominant fish also darkens him up as well as water quality and diet

[halofishboy]

feed it a good diet... hakari shimp for example and try a light substrate.

[cichniss]

well i put some terracota pots in the tank last night and guess what... the jad darkened up and is showing more spangling on his body!!! I think its because my red devil has taken up residency in one of the pots so the jd doesnt need to deal with him as much now. But the smaller jd is still light in color i guess its because hes just trying to stay out of trouble(hes the least dominate fish).Btw thanks for all the posts.

[carolinafishkeeper]

i heard if you feed your fish crustaceans, shrimp or crayfish preferbely live this will help coloration