I have a Jack between 10 and 11 inches long. After some ultra violent behavior he has his own tank. Anyway its primary food is Hikari Cichlid Gold. It absolutely loves it. It usually gets two balls in the A.M. then one more in the afternoon, then one more before the lights go out. If I feed it more it starts to get quite a fat gut going on. It just doesn't seem like enough food for a fish that size to me. I have a Oscar that is a bit larger but eats a lot more food than that. The Jack is about three and a half years old so I don't think it is going to grow any more. It also seems to be in excellent health, it is very active and is well aware of its surroundings and loves to watch people in the room. So I think it is a very healthy fish. It just seems like if I feed it any more it gets "Very" fat. Just thought I would ask the pro's, do you think I am feeding it enough?
Jack Dempsey feeding?
- Thread starter Canyoncarver
- Start date
I think most people over feed. If it is healthy, active and looks good, I say if it ain't broke don't fix it.
When a 10in. fish's stomach swells from any more than 1 pellet your are looking at some internal parasites or a serious case of constipation.
I feed Cichlid gold mini pellets as well as bigger Omega one pellets. I feed my fish usually twice sometimes once.
I have had a Jack for the last year. Hes around 9in. now. He eats about 5 bigger pellets and 10 smaller pellets every sitting. Or about half a shrimp. He eats and eats and eats. His belly will get a little bigger after a big meal but nothing drastic. I know I overfeed, but my fish are very colorful, active, not shy, or overweight, or foul water. I feed until he seems full.
Maybee you can try to give him some food soaked in garlic for help with parasites and also some skinned peas will help digestion. But if you think he is in excellent health, no need to change his regiment. But when you say he gets "very" fat from 1 pellet, to me that sounds like an internal problem.
What is his feces looking like?
I feed Cichlid gold mini pellets as well as bigger Omega one pellets. I feed my fish usually twice sometimes once.
I have had a Jack for the last year. Hes around 9in. now. He eats about 5 bigger pellets and 10 smaller pellets every sitting. Or about half a shrimp. He eats and eats and eats. His belly will get a little bigger after a big meal but nothing drastic. I know I overfeed, but my fish are very colorful, active, not shy, or overweight, or foul water. I feed until he seems full.
Maybee you can try to give him some food soaked in garlic for help with parasites and also some skinned peas will help digestion. But if you think he is in excellent health, no need to change his regiment. But when you say he gets "very" fat from 1 pellet, to me that sounds like an internal problem.
What is his feces looking like?
No it isn't that bad, it is just that if I feed it more than 5 or 6 large balls a day after a couple of days it noticeably gets fat. Our local fish store has a couple of Jack's a bit larger than mine and they are extremely fat. I am sure they are over fed. They also are not a colorful as mine, but they might be older. I was just wondering if I was in the right ball park with how much to give it. Like I said my Oscar eats at least two times that much. Thanks for the replies, I have grown to really like this fish and would like to see it live a long life.FishingOut;4540347; said:
It isn't that big is it? Surely some people have some larger ones on this forum? Our local fish joint has a couple at least an inch longer and a lot thicker. But they are in a little smaller tanks, and are distorted looking. They have a broader head, huge gut, and a little tail that looks like it hardly ever gets used. They are also a lighter shade of blue. At least mine will do a couple of quick laps around the tank after eating. Does anyone know how to tell a male from female?
