Hi all just picked up a couple a couple of weeks ago been doing research on them. I was wondering if anyone keeps them and do they have any advice on them. Thanks so much.
electric blue Jack Dempseys
- Thread starter pat3612
- Start date
AH! Another EBJD fan! How big and how many EBJDs do you have? How big is your tank where you will house them? Expect the decrease of the numbers if kept too many EBJDs in smaller tank when one of them become dominant male. Are you gonna breeding these EBJDs too?
Excellent choice! EBJD's aren't hardy as normal Jack Dempseys are. They require a bit more attention. Weekly water changes and a quality variety diet. Keeping stress levels down is really key. Since these fish's immune systems are weak in some to most cases a hint of stress will more then likely lead to an illness. My suggestions are this:
1. Make sure your tank is not a NEW tank. EBJD's being placed into a fairly new tank will just cause you problems and your water parameters are at a higher risk on being off.
2. 6 times the filtration. Example if you have 55gal tank your filters should be filtering 330 gallons per hour. This will help you in water quality.
3. Since these fish are omnivores provide varierty of foods meaty and vegetables.
4. WATER CHANGES!!! Cannot stress on how important these are. My suggestion is 25-40% water changes every 5 days until fish reaches 3+ inch mark.
5. Provide proper environment. Meaning provide water pH between 6.5-8.0, temperature IMO 78-82 degrees. Provide dither fish to create frenzy at feeding times, provide overhead cover to make the fish feel more comfortable in its environment.
6. Observe fish's behaviour. Any fish should act hungry and willing to eat at feedings. As you know EBJD's are IMO one of the more colorful freshwater fish I have seen. If fish is pale and or NOT eating something is wrong.
7. Have medication ON HAND and a quarantine tank for emergency purposes. My medication recommendations are: Aquarium Salt, Melafix, Pimafix, Metronidazole OR Jungle Parasite Clear.
I am not saying your fish will get sick just for precaution.
Here's a link to something I wrote, kinda like a care guide for EBJDs
http://dempsey.6.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=281
1. Make sure your tank is not a NEW tank. EBJD's being placed into a fairly new tank will just cause you problems and your water parameters are at a higher risk on being off.
2. 6 times the filtration. Example if you have 55gal tank your filters should be filtering 330 gallons per hour. This will help you in water quality.
3. Since these fish are omnivores provide varierty of foods meaty and vegetables.
4. WATER CHANGES!!! Cannot stress on how important these are. My suggestion is 25-40% water changes every 5 days until fish reaches 3+ inch mark.
5. Provide proper environment. Meaning provide water pH between 6.5-8.0, temperature IMO 78-82 degrees. Provide dither fish to create frenzy at feeding times, provide overhead cover to make the fish feel more comfortable in its environment.
6. Observe fish's behaviour. Any fish should act hungry and willing to eat at feedings. As you know EBJD's are IMO one of the more colorful freshwater fish I have seen. If fish is pale and or NOT eating something is wrong.
7. Have medication ON HAND and a quarantine tank for emergency purposes. My medication recommendations are: Aquarium Salt, Melafix, Pimafix, Metronidazole OR Jungle Parasite Clear.
I am not saying your fish will get sick just for precaution.
Here's a link to something I wrote, kinda like a care guide for EBJDs
http://dempsey.6.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=281
J-Aqua;2526813; said:
Thanks so much for the article it was very helpful.I have already treated my fish for parisites as a precaution. All my new fish are always treated in QT before being moved into their own tank or the community tanks. Ive been feeding them crushed NLS pellets and brine shrimp. I will start feeding more then once a day though. So far they seem to be doing well. Thanks again for the advice.
MN_Rebel;2526767; said:
Right now they are in the 10 gal Qt tank. Right at the moment I have a 20 ready for them. I dont know about breeding yet thats a ways off. I have 1 JD but hes only about 4 ins.I only have him because I bought some convicts and when they arrived there was a JD in with them .When they get a little bigger Ill upgrade the tank to a 50 and then to a 90 . They are only about 2 ins. How fast do they grow. Oh there is just 2.
I have 3 of them. I love them...I would agree, definitely need to do a lot of water changes, and have a big tank....I have tried breeding and no luck...