Jack Dempsey color
- Thread starter Buphy
- Start date
I don't think that being more tan says anything about their health....just color variation.
They def get darker when breeding ... almost black.
They def get darker when breeding ... almost black.
I have snorkeled with them in the cenotes of Mexico, and found there is quite a bit of color variation in individuals even in the confines of a small cenote of maybe less than 100,000 gallons.
Very old males were generally dark, as were breeding males holding territory.
Very old males were generally dark, as were breeding males holding territory.
So I of course as this question everywhere so I was asking at the LFS and I got an interesting response. Apparently (and I had noticed this) while they are all Jack Dempsey's the slight variations in color from one to the next can also be affected by the region that line of JD come from. according to this source there are 15 regions where they can come from. Can anyone verify or dispute this information? Also I couldn't figure out how to edit the original post to put this there. Any help with that would be great too ^.^
Although at the moment there are 3 "semi" recognized species of JD the most common and scientifically valid is Rocio octofasciata, but there are 2 more that may or may not be considered valid, R. gemmata, and R. ocotal.
I have found that if you go from one cenote to another, there are slight, yet noticeable differences. In Cristalino they may be more elongate than in Jardin de Eden, some may have a more bulldog like muzzle. Whether of not this is enough to warrant separation as species, is another story.
Here are a couple videos I took in 2 different cenotes, where I found them.
I have found that if you go from one cenote to another, there are slight, yet noticeable differences. In Cristalino they may be more elongate than in Jardin de Eden, some may have a more bulldog like muzzle. Whether of not this is enough to warrant separation as species, is another story.
Here are a couple videos I took in 2 different cenotes, where I found them.
The 2 cenotes in my videos are just off the highway, not far south of Cancun.
They are easily accessible, and used as swimming holes by many of the locals.
(It is best not to go on weekends, because they get a bit crowded)
They are easily accessible, and used as swimming holes by many of the locals.
(It is best not to go on weekends, because they get a bit crowded)
You have healthy fish. They just match your substrate and decor. Look at pics of JD's in tanks with black gravel- they won't be tan.
