Does Size Really Matter?!

[benzjamin13]

So I've been told many different things about my Jack Dempsey when it comes to it's adult size. I've heard 6" and I've heard 16". Well...he's currently 8" to 8.5" right now. So the 6" size range was obviously a lie. What do you guys and gals think?

 

[DeLgAdO]

the average size of a jack depsey is about 10inches

12 inches if their diet is well balanced and they have good water and plenty of space.

 

[posteo]

8" to 10"

 

[gomezladdams]

I agree 8-10" average full grown dempsey

 

[PeacockBass]

12 inches.

 

[Peanut_Power]

16" dempsey would be CRAZY!! that would totally be a record.....I haven't personally seen one over 11"...so anything above that is an accomplishment. Fish live longer, have more access to food, and various other factors in the home aquarium that they don't get in nature, which allows them to grow larger....for the most part. Wilds still look better IMO....hehe

 

[mkpeters6]

ive seen dempsey's at about 12+ in before - usually are at least 4-5 yrs old, and look pretty ugly - but they will get big - however more likley to stay around 10in and im not sure if males and females have diff growth rates like other central am cichlids

 

[Peanut_Power]

Males generally grow faster in all types of cichlids....its one of the ways you can sex some of the harder to sex cichlids actually....lol...like Oscars, normally its either by which one grows faster or when they spawn that ur able to tell which is male and which is female. Males will grow faster cuz they have to compete for females, guard territory and babies....and such. So they need to be larger faster....

 

[finsandfangs]

i have seen a huge one in a 300 gal at a fish store in plymouth nh. the thing must be about 12" long and wider than my fist 4 to 5 "!! it has an ugly body shape though

 

[Cyclop3000]

Well mine is over 2-3 years old, and in the past 6-12 months I have noticed but a slight growth. He is now about 10".

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