Healthy Jack?

[florencejr11]

My jack isn’t growing. I been doing water changes at 30% - 40% every three days for the past two months. My Texas and Midas who were all purchased at the same time have beefed up and grown. Also I just noticed she doesn’t eat pellets only krill and the occasional worm treat. Another concern are these white spots I noticed.

 

[florencejr11]

My Texas and Midas . You guys can comepare them and see the difference.

 

[Deadeye]

My Jack had a similar problem.
I don’t see any problems other than colors developing. Looks male by the way.
I think the problem is outcompetition from the Texas and Midas. It isn’t getting the same amount of food and isn’t growing as fast as a result. Try to get it some sinking food if you don’t already. Try to feed flakes occasionally. Everything is able to get some when I feed flakes.

 

[Rocksor]

Stress will affect a fish's growth. So if the other 2 fish are stressing that one out, it will lose more energy to stress and have little energy for growth. But, jacks also tend to grow slower when not the dominant fish in the tank (maybe 0.25" a month)

 

[florencejr11]

My Jack had a similar problem.
I don’t see any problems other than colors developing. Looks male by the way.
I think the problem is outcompetition from the Texas and Midas. It isn’t getting the same amount of food and isn’t growing as fast as a result. Try to get it some sinking food if you don’t already. Try to feed flakes occasionally. Everything is able to get some when I feed flakes.

Thanks. As for as competition that can be a possibility. I may set up a 20 gallon for him to grown in

 

[florencejr11]

Stress will affect a fish's growth. So if the other 2 fish are stressing that one out, it will lose more energy to stress and have little energy for growth. But, jacks also tend to grow slower when not the dominant fish in the tank (maybe 0.25" a month)

It’s possibly it’s the slow growth cause this jack doesn’t back down from the other two by far the meanest fish I have own I can only imagine what’s he like when gets bigger.

 

[Deadeye]

Thanks. As for as competition that can be a possibility. I may set up a 20 gallon for him to grown in

Just make sure he’s out of there when too big. A small tank will stunt as well.

It’s possibly it’s the slow growth cause this jack doesn’t back down from the other two by far the meanest fish I have own I can only imagine what’s he like when gets bigger.

The slow growth could well be because of stress. Just because he is fighting back doesn’t mean it isn’t super stressed. Mine grew at a crawl until he was big enough to intimidate the other fish and fend for himself. Now he is big and growing normally.

 

[duanes]

Even in nature when JDs share habitat with other cichlids, they don't do as well, in size and population as when they dominate.
Where I have spent time in nature with them in the Cenotes of Mexico, if other cichlids dominate, the JDs suffer.
In the video below M uropthalmus dominate, the JD population is small in comparison, and they are quite torn up.

In the next video below, JDs are the dominent cichlid, and their population and appearance reflects it.

IMO JDs belong in a species only tank (no other cichlids) with non-cichlids as tank mates, such as large live bearers, and/or Astayanax tetras, these are the same species they share habitat with in nature.
Your JD does look healthy though, very nice color

 

[WOLF2013]

Jack Dempsey Cichlids are slow growers compared to other South and Central American cichlids. I agree with the previous comments but I would like to add:
- Try feeding market shrimp and tilapia! I have noticed these foods have helped my fish put on size and bulkiness.
- Earthworms! They have always helped my fish grow. I have seen pike cichlids triple in size with them.