Juvenile Jack Dempsey is yellow not black??? Why?

[Chaseg03]

I have pics in other forums

 

[duanes]

Black is usually a mature,and dominent color.
In nature they aren't usually dark black until at least 6".
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The one on the right in the cenotes of mexico is about 10"
Here's a video from a cenote, with JDs of various ages
Eden2

 

[Athletic_Amph]

As stated above, they don't darken until they mature... your jack is still very, very young. My blue gene group was the very light until they hit the ~3"-4" mark...
This is them around 1.5"-2"

 

[Frank Castle]

.....or it could just be a Gold morph Jack Dempsey....

 

[cichlidfish]

I agree w/ the others. They always start out yellowish in color, but also could be a gold morph. Pics would help on this forum.

 

[Imsobored152]

As stated above, they don't darken until they mature... your jack is still very, very young. My blue gene group was the very light until they hit the ~3"-4" mark...
This is them around 1.5"-2"

View attachment 1224410

Not necessarily, mine is probably only 2 inches. It started off that light color when I picked it up from petsmart, within 2 days it turned black. He is also not the dominant fish in my tank, nor is he picked on.
Substrate color could also have a large part to do with it, bare bottom tank in petsmart (light sand in yours) ive got black sand.