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richardhmc

richardhmc

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 25, 2006
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nyc
Hey everyone! ;)

I have a 55 gallon tank with 6 jack dempseys, 3 Electric Blue Jack Dempseys, and 2 Plecos. Even though they are barely more than 3 inches each, I have problems with HIGH nitrites, ammonia because I have so many fish in a little tank. I have also been told that plecos are poop factories, although I never really tell if there is much crap everywhere.

So, I will have to drop out some fish. Which fish should I return or give away? I know for a fact I will not give away my ebjds. They are the most precious to me. Out of the six regular dempseys, I think only one of them is female. I can tell this because this particular one has green-ish spots all over its gill plates and around. Plus, since there are so many, Ive been told they can stress out from hierarchy, or the biggest fish. There is only one fish in my tank that remains dark while the others are pale.

Later on, I will buy a 125 gallon tank which will house a pair ( if a pair comes up ). I would like a pair of regular dempseys and a pair of ebjd/jd in both the 55 and the 125.

So, what should I do? How many should I keep? Should I drop out the plecos? Thank you.

- Richard
 
Sounds like you have a filtration problem as well. What are you using?
 
filstar xp2 - it has been running for about 2 weeks. I used cycle on it too
I do 10 gallon water changes every sunday, wednesday, friday
 
The tank is still cycling. That's a lot of bio-load for a new tank it takes a while before it's really established. Cycle or no.

Keep up with the cycle and think about adding an HOB.

If you can tell the female, pick a male with a good personality and lose the rest. Or wait for a pair to develop. PS a pair of JDs in a 55 sucks.
 
Pick a male with good personality??? Do I have to ask questions to the fish? :grinno:

I thought a pair of jds were perfect for a 55... thats what i was told from a bunch of people.

-richard
 
There is something that can be said for large trickle filters. I have one of these on my 75 and have about 35 large Africans. These are spawning also.
 
the way you pick males to get rid of is to wait a few months and take out the biggest JD. The dominant male will usually hog the food which means he'll grow faster. As far a personality goes, that means pick the mean ones to get rid of.
 
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