Gender My Jack Dempsey

[Fishlover420]

I think it’s a male for sure.
A female’s gill will look almost like the whole thing is painted blue.
Jexnell has some pics of a female he had.
My jd was also very skittish, he still is a bit - they just naturally are. Adding lots of floating cover as well as dither fish (like mollies, rainbowfish, giant danios, or large tetras) help to calm it down and think that everything is safe.

So I love my pet store because I have been seeking the. Buenas Aries tetras as they are found in the wild with the JD and has been recommended more than any tetras honestly and they got 20 available for $1.99 ……
I mentioned needing some to the owner last week and now he has them and at a great price I also may throw in 4 sepra tetras I don’t know ?‍ maybe 4 each?? We will see…. BA is not a big eye catcher but it’s ok

 

[Deadeye]

BA tetras aren’t found in the wild with jd, they just make really good tankmates. They do look a lot like the Mexican tetras which are a natural tankmate.
They aren’t too much to look at, but I like them (they are like mini piranhas). The dull bodies will compliment the cichlid well.
I’d be a bit wary of serps. Definitely good with a smaller cichlid but may be a bit small for a jd. One of my favorite tetras though.

 

[Fishlover420]

BA tetras aren’t found in the wild with jd, they just make really good tankmates. They do look a lot like the Mexican tetras which are a natural tankmate.
They aren’t too much to look at, but I like them (they are like mini piranhas). The dull bodies will compliment the cichlid well.
I’d be a bit wary of serps. Definitely good with a smaller cichlid but may be a bit small for a jd. One of my favorite tetras though.

Ok thanks for that I just know people kept saying BA tetras LOL ? So Yea I just want to try 4 serps but I decided 7 BA tetras do you think I will have enough??? I’m going this evening I’m really excited about it!!! I’m planning on either getting a standing rock for my center decoration with a small piece of spider driftwood if they have the right piece for my tank!! It has to be The One!!! LOL ?
And things are getting easier he has this 8” terracotta and he loves it!!! So slowly but surely X and I are starting a all love relationship before I loved him he hated me LOL ?!!! Truly he’s just scared and obviously he had a bad past. It’s weird one day I got my net for another tank and then he saw it mid tank outside the glass and flipped out just started running into things!!! Really makes me wonder what idiot had him before me!
But over the past month I think the small things I do to show him my respect I slowly earn his trust and respect it’s been a wonderful month and I am looking forward to seeing him at his full growth!! Happy and Healthy!! You have been extremely helpful with everything so I want to say thank you for that and look forward to seeing more questions!!! LOL ?

 

[Deadeye]

Jds are very skittish - the tetras should help. It took mine months to calm down.

 

[Fishlover420]

Jds are very skittish - the tetras should help. It took mine months to calm down.

He’s getting better with the terracotta pot I will be ordering a center driftwood and some fake plants as well for him…… I’m considering trying a Fire mouth after finding out we are upgrading to a 75 gallon soon !!!! So excited!!

 

[Deadeye]

If you’re gonna try a cichlid tankmate I’d go for a convict as they are tough. Firemouths are weaker and unable to tolerate potential aggression the way a con does.

 

[Fishlover420]

If you’re gonna try a cichlid tankmate I’d go for a convict as they are tough. Firemouths are weaker and unable to tolerate potential aggression the way a con does.

Well I ended up getting a Firecon it’s a fire mouth convict hybrid working great plus I did 4 BA tetra as planned thing is then I vented the fish all to find out I have a small hole and a big hole and I was told that means female??

 

[Rocksor]

Well I ended up getting a Firecon it’s a fire mouth convict hybrid working great plus I did 4 BA tetra as planned thing is then I vented the fish all to find out I have a small hole and a big hole and I was told that means female??

could be.

You need to have more than 4 BA tetras. Get that shoal at 8+.

 

[Fishlover420]

could be.

You need to have more than 4 BA tetras. Get that shoal at 8+.

Well that’s the thing I am scared to they are fiesty and I vented it omg female btw should hopefully get the rest of her face color her lip is now blue and her face is getting more blue….. so 4 more ok I am going to take 3 fish in and then I will use store credit….. anyway since I no nothing about her past there is a chance that the prior owner did what I heard was juiced to make the color pop faster and being impatient….. I guess I am asking could this be why the facial coloring is off like it is?
Ok back to the pet shop it was just I got that hybrid male Firecon and I didn’t want to overwhelm her but then I vented her and o boy !!!!

 

[Deadeye]

Any pics of the firecon?
Convicts are pretty easy to tell gender - not sure how well that translates into hybrids though.
Many cons do have a lot of blue in them so that’s where I’d guess the blue comes from.