View Full Version : 55 gal and Jack Dempsey's!
yourwinter
05-14-2005, 10:24 AM
Okay, I currently have a 55 gal tank. The only fish in it are 10 scissor-tailed rasboras...after so long they are boring. I want to get into Jack Dempsey's. Is a 55 gal suitable for them? If so, how many? I'm only wanting two or so...so females get along with other females? I know that the males tend to be MUCH more aggressive.
Caveman
05-15-2005, 4:49 AM
55 gallon should be able to house two Dempseys for life. As far as aggression goes I would have to say that it all depends on the attitude of the fish you get. I have owned some Depmseys that were so peacefull that they were able to live with kissing gouramis and angelfish. Others I have owned were very territorial and were best suited alone.
piranha45
05-17-2005, 12:29 AM
males are prettier than females though, but they can be hard/impossible to sex at the 1-2" sizes you see them at the lfs. You could try getting 2 small specimens and see how things go, but I think one might want the whole tank for itself. There are many other tankmates you could keep with them though if you so pleased.
Ariel
05-17-2005, 12:33 AM
Okay, I currently have a 55 gal tank. The only fish in it are 10 scissor-tailed rasboras...after so long they are boring. I want to get into Jack Dempsey's. Is a 55 gal suitable for them? If so, how many? I'm only wanting two or so...so females get along with other females? I know that the males tend to be MUCH more aggressive.
I suggest "blue jack dempsey" they wouldnt grow too big, and they r very nice
WckedMidas
05-17-2005, 3:37 PM
I suggest "blue jack dempsey" they wouldnt grow too big, and they r very nice
problm with blues is they die realy easy. ive read to many threads where people got them and they died shortly afterwards. jacks i beleve full grown reach maybe 12 inchs on big side. It take long time to reach that size so you should be able to get away with a pair in there for a few years. When you look at the jacks your gonna buy. Look at there faces there will have blue spangles going down there face. Mle have little blue iredecent dots going half way down there cheek and females have them going all the way down. I think females look better then the males my self tho
You can buy a group of juveniles and as they grow, you can start picking out the ones you want to keep and sell/give the other ones away.
You can buy a group of juveniles and as they grow, you can start picking out the ones you want to keep and sell/give the other ones away.
That would be a good idea..
zms325i
05-20-2005, 11:32 AM
A pair of JDs will be happy in a 55. Good luck with finding the M/Fs, but if you wait it out, you should end up with a nice pair.
sleepyflight
05-20-2005, 11:44 AM
Good luck finding them??? how could you not? I say get a pair of Dempseys, Texans, Green Terrors, and some Red Devils. Why not....you'll see some different temperments/attitudes and by the time they are growing well you too will have the sickness and be buying more tanks and you can spread them out :drool: And then you will have more tanks again and you can get rarer and even more hot stuff :shakehead Soon you wont' be able to hear yourself think. Pumps, air, flowing water, ITS TAKING OVER MY HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!! :22_yikes: But the other guys are right....lotta nice tank mates for dempseys that are speckled looking that you'd prolly like.
buddah101
05-20-2005, 2:00 PM
Good luck finding them??? how could you not? I say get a pair of Dempseys, Texans, Green Terrors, and some Red Devils.....
While your intensions may be in the right place your advice is not. I'm not trying to be rude, however, that would be WAY overstocked in my opinion and therfore not the greatest of ideas. Be kind to your fish and they will reward you with years of [relatively] pain free entertainment. JMO
;)
sleepyflight
05-20-2005, 2:02 PM
Overstocking is all dependant upon size..... Most of the places I have around here besides the one local, I would be getting most of those fish around and inch to 1.5 and with the proper amount of cover/caves and what not I don't believe it to be overstocked at all. I did also mention that he WILL (we all have) get the sickness and be buying more tanks to SPREAD EVERYTHING OUT
buddah101
05-20-2005, 2:32 PM
Overstocking is all dependant upon size..... Most of the places I have around here besides the one local, I would be getting most of those fish around and inch to 1.5 and with the proper amount of cover/caves and what not I don't believe it to be overstocked at all. I did also mention that he WILL (we all have) get the sickness and be buying more tanks to SPREAD EVERYTHING OUT
Very true. Might need a twelve step program of some sort after it is all said and done with! LOL!!
sleepyflight
05-20-2005, 2:43 PM
:hitting: yeeessss The sickness is strong and will prevail!! I guess he just has to realize how big they WILL get and how fast.
piranha45
05-20-2005, 3:06 PM
I don't think its very safe to assume everyone here has the automatic intent/desire to invest in more tanks and equipment. The thread-starter plainly looks like h/she wants something that will go in a 55g and no more.
sleepyflight
05-20-2005, 3:12 PM
But I did state (in some sorts) that it would be under a condition of probably gaining more tanks. I'm sure if she reads through everyone's corrections/bashing/ and thoughts she'll get the picture.
WckedMidas
05-20-2005, 3:43 PM
jjst buy 6 jacks growhtme till u can sex them trade rest in for store credit and get free can or bag of food.