I went the lfs and saw two different colored jack dempseys. There was a grayish one and a dark colored one that was almost black with dark vertical stripes. Why are there light and dark colored ones? Are the dark ones males?
dark and light JD?
- Thread starter RTCatz
- Start date
Cichlids, just like most fish, will change their color based on stress levels. The lighter colored JD is stressed out while the darker one is better adjusted to the tank.
a cichlid's color will also have to do with wether they are a dominant fish or a submissive fish in the tank. if you have a larger dempsey with smaller fish and the dempsey is king of the tank then it will display darker, more vibrant colors. a submissive dempsey will have lighter, more bland colors. 
yeah it was probably just because of mood..or it might have been getting picked on....were they breeding or were they juveniles.yeah was the other an electric blue depsey...
Their colors change alot with mood...I love how JD's change all the time....
However...I have a 7" JD and it's always light...and it's a scaredy cat wuss to so that's probly why...she looks pretty badass when she fights and her color darkens and she shines...but most of the time she's a scaredy cat...
But I have a 3" JD that is no where close to being dominant and it's got pitch black stripes all the time...looks awesome!
However...I have a 7" JD and it's always light...and it's a scaredy cat wuss to so that's probly why...she looks pretty badass when she fights and her color darkens and she shines...but most of the time she's a scaredy cat...
But I have a 3" JD that is no where close to being dominant and it's got pitch black stripes all the time...looks awesome!
dempseys like a lot of cichlids vary in color depending on their mood as everyone said, when they're being aggressive or worked up they would be darker, when they are relaxed or stressed they are lighter in color, mine usually stay between the darkest and lightest shades, but then i don't keep cichlids except for angelfish in the same tank so there are no dominant/submissive relationships