Thinking of what to do.

[Chaory]

I recently purchased a baby JD (about 1.5 inches). There were 2-3 other JD's in the tank where I got it at the pet shop. The reason why I chose this guy, was because it was the most active. Swim up, down, and around the tank constantly. The others were mostly hiding and being territorial.

From what I read, is that JD's are skittish and likes to hide a lot. Is all JD's or mostly all of them like that? I prefer a fish that very personally and not shy or skittish.

Should I return or give away the JD and get something else, like a GT, Midas, or Texas?

 

[Ed204]

I recently purchased a baby JD (about 1.5 inches). There were 2-3 other JD's in the tank where I got it at the pet shop. The reason why I chose this guy, was because it was the most active. Swim up, down, and around the tank constantly. The others were mostly hiding and being territorial.

From what I read, is that JD's are skittish and likes to hide a lot. Is all JD's or mostly all of them like that? I prefer a fish that very personally and not shy or skittish.

Should I return or give away the JD and get something else, like a GT, Midas, or Texas?

Hi there,
I believe that it completely depends on the fish, Different fish have different personalities. I currently have 3 Blood Parrots all still around 5 inches, two of them stay in their territory and don't move anywhere else until feeding time, the other one is very friendly and active he sometimes hides in his Cermaic pot but he explores the tank most of the time. In conclusion, as I stated above it completely depends on the fishes personality.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

While personality does vary from fish to fish, JD's, from my experience, seem to be on the shyer side of the personality spectrum. Certainly shy compared to anything Amphilophus. How large of a tank do you have OP?

 

[duanes]

Beyond just personality, whether a fish feels safe or not is key.
In nature, cichlids watch dither fish to judge whether or not the coast is clear, they also have dark caves deep down near the substrate ,where they can safely retreat to.
If the dither fish are aimlessly swimming about, the JD (or any other cichlid) knows predators are absent, when dithers dart for safety, that is an early warning for cichlids to do the same.
But this also has to do with your tank size, if the tank is small, there are no room for dithers, either space concern of overcrowding, or they become too easy prey for the cichlid.
Below is a photo of adult JDs in nature, and the dithers that surround them.

note the population ratio, there are usually scores of dithers for every 1 cichlid.
And in my obersvation when a JD tried to eat a live bearer, it missed 9 out of 10 times.
In a small tank, the odds are more in the JDs favor compared to "real" life.
In the photos distance is deceiving, the rocks are 3 to 4ft below the surface and are as large as compact cars, so the caves are another 5 to 6ft below.

 

[Chaory]

While personality does vary from fish to fish, JD's, from my experience, seem to be on the shyer side of the personality spectrum. Certainly shy compared to anything Amphilophus. How large of a tank do you have OP?

I have a few tanks, but I'm using a 40 gallon for a grow out tank, then it will be move to the 75 gallon when it gets larger.

 

[Chaory]

I probably will cross out the midas, since I already have a Flowerhorn. Probably personality, they would be about the same.

 

[Chaory]

I would rather do it now, then waste time and grow it out. What if I keep the tank free of plants and decors. Maybe it will get use to be out in the open?

Yes, I do know every cichlid or fish will have a slightly different personality. I found that out when my love for Oscars changed. Well for my last one that I had and gave away to a lfs. All the Oscars I had before was friendly, but the last guy was a bit on the mean side. Attacking the siphon hose while I do a weekly vacuum and charge at me when I get close to it's tank. Sad, because I grew this guy from 1 inch to 14 inches and got it for 2 years.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Attacking the syphon hose and glass-banging are actually what I prefer in a fish. More interactive. If you can't handle a little glass-banging, large cichlids are probably not the type of fish you should be keeping. Although, Jack dempseys will probably not do either of those things.

 

[Vukmir13]

Sounds like you had an awesome Oscar.

 

[Chaory]

For

Attacking the syphon hose and glass-banging are actually what I prefer in a fish. More interactive. If you can't handle a little glass-banging, large cichlids are probably not the type of fish you should be keeping. Although, Jack dempseys will probably not do either of those things.

For other fish like Flowerhorn, midash etc I do, but not for Oscars.