I finally got a good pic of my Jag

[Chicago_Piranha]

So I was finally able to get a halfway decent shot of my Jag (which sounds funny all by itself) - I have had this guy for about 4 months and he has grown to about 6" so far. I know they can get as large as 11" but is there a certain point where I should move him to a tank by himself? So far he hasn't been aggressive toward his tanks mates but if he is going to double in size then Fish Murder may happen.

Currently he is housed in a 100g display with a 20g sump and there is about 10 other larger (4-6") mixed African & SA cichild's.

With this being my first cichild tank I am hoping some of the more experienced cichild folks could help steer me in the right direction..

 

[Belly up]

They get a lot bigger than 11". I`ve seen them go sixteen inches. I like the color`s on this fish. Keep his water changes up and feed him good quality food and he should reach monster status before you know it!

 

[Crazy mike]

They get a lot bigger than 11". I`ve seen them go sixteen inches. I like the color`s on this fish. Keep his water changes up and feed him good quality food and he should reach monster status before you know it!

+ 1 on the bigger than 11 mine hit 12 inches in a year and is 13 to 14 inches right now. depending on the stock he could live in the hundred a little while longer but beware if they don't like another fish they will kill it. What's it being housed with now


Sent from my iPod touch using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[Chicago_Piranha]

I am currently feeding the tank blood worms & pellets - No live food yet. I am doing 20% changes every two weeks with vacuuming and general cleanings every week. This guy is far and away my favorite and I have lots of questions about him.

How long till he is full size?
Can anyone tell the sex?
How hard to breed are they?
Will he be calm to a certain age and then one day get aggressive?
Would you even want to introduce live food to him, & if so then when?

Sorry if I am coming off a little obnoxious, but I just keep getting more curious, & excited the more I get involved in this hobby/obsession

Here is a picture of his home and some of his tank mates

 

[Chicago_Piranha]

The tank is stocked with the following. Please forgive me as I am still learning the names so I may be off a little bit.....

1x Jag
1x Buffalo Head Cichild
1x Electric Blue
2x Electric Yellow
2x Mbuna Mixed
2x black Convicts
2x Auraus (pair) - The male is the most aggressive in the tank.

 

[Rocksor]

Are you testing for nitrates using a liquid test? 20% every 2 weeks is pretty small water changes for that tank with that many fish.

 

[Chicago_Piranha]

yes I am using a liquid test kit and thus far the nitrates have been really low. I forgot to mention - I have been changing the carbon media pads in the sump every week which has really helped keep the water clear and I am guessing thats why the nitrates are low.

As I mentioned before I am kind of a novice and after 4 months of getting bitten by the MFK hobby I am still learning so any advice will be greatly appreciated. My goal is to make sure that my tank habits (i.e. cleaning, water changes, stocking, etc.) are correct and accurate from the beginning.

 

[cich78]

Nice jag....jags have become a new old favorite of mine after years in the cichlid hobby....i could tell you some things about them yet i am also learning and relearning myself....one rule of thumb with them is not to keep them with any fish that can possibly fit in its mouth ...its seems ok for now but watch that as he grows...he probably is not the most outgoing right now but he will become dominant when he is bigger....in my case in the past they will do their damage when no one is around and you will see the results when you get up in the morning or when you come home from work....you are doing a really great job for the time you have been in ...your tank looks great...doing a lot of things right....i would just say and you will notice this among others that you try to do your water changes weekly 25-50 %or so....what you are feeding looks good...seems like every fish loves blood worms..see what other frozen foods they might eat.. i also give mine pieces of raw shrimp...if you jag is like mine he will love it... Btw...you jag looks male.

 

[BadDogsPa]

Mixing cichlids,hope it works out ok for ya

 

[Chicago_Piranha]

Nice jag....jags have become a new old favorite of mine after years in the cichlid hobby....i could tell you some things about them yet i am also learning and relearning myself....one rule of thumb with them is not to keep them with any fish that can possibly fit in its mouth ...its seems ok for now but watch that as he grows...he probably is not the most outgoing right now but he will become dominant when he is bigger....in my case in the past they will do their damage when no one is around and you will see the results when you get up in the morning or when you come home from work....you are doing a really great job for the time you have been in ...your tank looks great...doing a lot of things right....i would just say and you will notice this among others that you try to do your water changes weekly 25-50 %or so....what you are feeding looks good...seems like every fish loves blood worms..see what other frozen foods they might eat.. i also give mine pieces of raw shrimp...if you jag is like mine he will love it... Btw...you jag looks male.

Thank you for the insight and the compliments on the tank. I will absolutely see what else they like in the frozen food isle As for mixing him with the cichilds they are all about 4 months old so they have been growing together and thus far in harmony. Currently there are only 2 other fish in the tank that can/will fit into his mouth so I am nervous about him getting bigger and making a meal out of them. I have to admit that when I got the Jag I was under the impression that he would max out at 8" or so....... After he was home is when did my research - Opps! That won't happen again however everything happens for a reason, and he has become my favorite. This has now got me started building a stand that can house a 180 or 240 tank as his next home. Like I said, everything happens for a reason. Hopefully over the next 2-3 months I can get the new tank set up and not tick off the wife too much in the process. The stand isn't finished yet but I have a half way decent start on it.

Thank you again cich78 for the kind words - I hope the holiday season is blessed for everyone reading this forum