Jack Dempsey aggression

[Dodger77]

Hey, what’s people’s opinion on jack aggression as a mated pair or as a lone male? I currently have a pair in my 4.5 ft x2x2 tank. I find the female way more aggressive than the male who has a go at fish in his way but doesn’t go looking for trouble like my female.
Ideally I’d like to add some more cichlids or other similar sized fish without it becoming a war zone

 

[Gourami Swami]

It depends on the individual fish, and sounds like your female is particularly aggressive. Can you get other cichlids in that tank? Maybe, though I'm sure your JD's will not like it. Maybe a pair of convicts? They are tough enough that they should be able to survive. But I would keep an eye on them all the same.

 

[duanes]

In nature when JDs share habitat with other cichlids, they tend to suffer the others presence. When they are the only cichlid in the habitat, sharing with endemic live bearers, and a small population of catfish, they do rather well.
And in nature a pair will guard a territory encompassing about 250 gallons (4ft X 4ft X 4ft) depending on whats available.
Below are 2 videos taken in their natural habitat.
1st where they share habitat with other cichlids, note the torn fins, and tendency to stay near hide outs.
027 zps4b102ffd
Now a video where the JDs dominate, and there are few other cichlids, but they share with mostly sailfin mollies, the space is also much larger
Eden2
Both thee spots are just south of Cancun just off the main highway.

 

[Dodger77]

Thanks for the input. So in the wild what do they share their natural habitat with? I want to keep them with something that doesn’t eat plants as such. I putting some Anubis plants and java germs attached to some roots and bog wood as they love digging

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Thanks for the input. So in the wild what do they share their natural habitat with? I want to keep them with something that doesn’t eat plants as such. I putting some Anubis plants and java germs attached to some roots and bog wood as they love digging

How about keeping them with xl swordtails?

 

[duanes]

Although in my video the cichlid other than the JDs is Mayaheros uropthalmus, they get a bit large for your tank.
Another they share habitat with, are in the genus Thorichthys, but again your tank is in "my reality" too small for any cichlid other than the JDs.
I would keep a harem of JDs, maybe a male or two and 3 for 4 females.
Mollies or swordtails would work as tank mates, as long as they are large enough. In the cenotes mollies were easily 5 "- 7".
JDs 8"-10".
As the live bearers drop fry, they will be quickly eaten by the JDs. Which is how the live bearers re kept in check in the cenotes.

In the cenotes the JDs miss 9 out of 10times, but in an aquarium, it will be reversed.

 

[DaveAPBT]

The clarity in those two videos is fantastic, I am extremely envious of you for having the opportunity to witness that. I keep an ebjd & it is housed with green sailfin mollies & I haven't had any problems at all