Best Tankmates for Jack Dempsey?

[GentleGiantsCichlidKeeper]

Post a picture of your fish, we can hopefully tell you if you have a male or female. If it is a male, you will need at least a 75 gallon in my opinion, and are unlikely to keep other large cichlids with him in that size. Females stay a good bit smaller, you may be able to get away with a 55, but not with a severum and convict. For that combination I think something more like 100 gallonsor larger would be appropriate. You could try the livebearers as tankmates, I find sometimes cichlids ignore them; but more often if they fit in the mouth, they get eaten.

Sorry for the cloudy water going through New Tank Syndrome. Tell me if you need a better angle!

 

[Deadeye]

He looks to small and faded to tell. The lack of bearding would indicate male though.

 

[Rocksor]

The female bearding/blotching can still come in at a later size.

 

[FINWIN]

Here's how JDs live in nature.
Eden2
I have found they don't do well in the company of other cichlids, even in nature.
If you compare the 1st video where JDs are the dominant cichlid, sharing habitat with live bearers and catfish, they do well.
But in the video below, where other cichlids dominate the habitat (Mayaheros uropthalmus) the population of JDs is minimal and they are quite torn up.
027 zps4b102ffd
The problem with combining JDs and live bearers in captivity is most tanks don't offer enough space for live bearers not to be cornered and eaten.
In nature JDs miss 9 out of 10 strikes.
To make it work in an aquarium, you'd probably need at least a 6 ft tank, to allow enough escape space, most cichlids won't break off chance until at least 4 feet.

I remember when I got my parrots. There were about 10 parrots and 2 dempseys in the tank. The parrots were fine but the dempseys were all stressed to hell, whirling crazy in the middle of the tank. One kept banging his head on the glass. The parrots ignored them and swam all around.

 

[GentleGiantsCichlidKeeper]

I remember when I got my parrots. There were about 10 parrots and 2 dempseys in the tank. The parrots were fine but the dempseys were all stressed to hell, whirling crazy in the middle of the tank. One kept banging his head on the glass. The parrots ignored them and swam all around.

My Jack Dempsey completely ignores my parrots and all of my tankmates expect the Convict Cichlid. I have never seen my fish banging on the glass was it ok?

 

[celebrist]

My Jack Dempsey completely ignores my parrots and all of my tankmates expect the Convict Cichlid. I have never seen my fish banging on the glass was it ok?

I have a mixed group of columbian and buenos Aires tetras that do very well with my pair

 

[GentleGiantsCichlidKeeper]

I have a mixed group of columbian and buenos Aires tetras that do very well with my pair

I will also look into those type of fish for my tank!

 

[celebrist]

I will also look into those type of fish for my tank!

The buenos Aires seem hardier so if your Jack's are a bit aggressive I would do a large single species group of them but I think the colombians are more attractive personally so I did a mix since my jacks are mild mannered

 

[GentleGiantsCichlidKeeper]

The buenos Aires seem hardier so if your Jack's are a bit aggressive I would do a large single species group of them but I think the colombians are more attractive personally so I did a mix since my jacks are mild mannered

My Jack Dempsey seems to be mild mannered and is supposedly a female so I would mix tank-mates as well!

 

[Deadeye]

For the tetras, Buenos are really cheap and get as big and fast as Colombians, so less of a financial risk when the Dempsey grows. They are also really active, act like exos in large groups (without the aggression). One of my favorite tetras. They also go really well with giant danios and Australian rainbows.