I've done quite a bit of reading on EBJDs and there is a lot of discussion about how they are fragile, prone to disease, or just drop dead for no apparent reason. However much of that information is years old. In your opinion is this still true? Or has better breeding practices resulted in sturdier stock being produced?
Electric Blue Dempsey general health
- Thread starter Spence
- Start date
YankeeJack
I feel like both are true, Their still less aggressive and smaller then regular Jack Dempsey’s and they are prone to stress related deaths as well as genetic problems.
However, I feel the stock had gotten better over the years as people figured out how to reproduce them, that way you get less inbreeding and stronger genetics.
Like almost any fish, good clean water, the right tank space, the right tank mates or lack there of, and a healthy diet. They are very raisable, I’ve been seeing more and more fairly large adults then I used to.
From what I understand the 4inch mark or so is when you’ll know. Mine are only just over two. So I still have growing to do before I can speak from experience.
I'm in the same boat as my EBJD is also about 2 inches. Hoping to figure out if its male or female and once grown up a bit get a nice BG partner for him/her and see how it goes. Right now it's super active and an aggressive eater...but really likes its hiding spot too. Typical JD behavior so far.
I would say if acqired from a good source you can get good healthy ones.
I just got back into the hobby 6 months ago and got one from The Wet Spot. Still have him, and hes grown to near 5inches now. And proof of his hardiness, long story short hes been in a 70deg tank for 3 weeks.
The day I got him at 1.5 inches, 6 months ago.
And a couple pics from today. Hes 4.5/ 5in not counting his tail fin, his wife in pic 3 is 3.5in
These fish are soo cool, their scales are like those color-changing paint jobs on cars, just depends on how the light hits it on what color it will be.
On sexing, that is a bit harder to do, mostly you go on how they act to a know sex fish. You may be able to go on their dorsal and anal fin trailers or lack there of. You can see on mine they are nearly as long as his tail fin. Possibly body shape, but marking wise they are identical.
I just got back into the hobby 6 months ago and got one from The Wet Spot. Still have him, and hes grown to near 5inches now. And proof of his hardiness, long story short hes been in a 70deg tank for 3 weeks.
The day I got him at 1.5 inches, 6 months ago.
And a couple pics from today. Hes 4.5/ 5in not counting his tail fin, his wife in pic 3 is 3.5in
These fish are soo cool, their scales are like those color-changing paint jobs on cars, just depends on how the light hits it on what color it will be.
On sexing, that is a bit harder to do, mostly you go on how they act to a know sex fish. You may be able to go on their dorsal and anal fin trailers or lack there of. You can see on mine they are nearly as long as his tail fin. Possibly body shape, but marking wise they are identical.
IME getting this strain to 6" is not the issue, getting them to mature adult size, and keeping them alive for 2 years or more is the issue. I see a ton of people posting pics of their 2-4" EBJD, I almost never see anyone posting pics of their 8-9" mature males. Overall this is a weak strain of fish, beautiful to look at, but generally speaking not that hardy. It would be interesting if those of you keeping them continue to update as time goes by.
I agree with the comments already posted. They definitely seem to be more susceptible to poor water quality.