Jack Dempsey Male or female

[Frank Castle]

Frank, you're not the only one! lol the more JD's I see, the more I see the same issues you're describing. I think a lot of it has to due with inbreeding of these fish - and probably line breeding as well. I've also noticed that a lot of fish sold as "EBJDs" appear to be quite low quality, and look like super colorful (like regular, wild type) jacks. For instance, one of my previous EBJD's was from a guy in Cali - I purchased 3 from him - and two looked like bold blue Jacks, while the third would fade in and out (similar to colors of a breeding dress, but @ 2" I highly doubt (s)he was attempting to court a spouse). When it wasn't in, I'll call it, "blue form" it looked like a regular jack with an irregularly high spangle count. Does your "female" have excess spangles down her body and just not below the jaw line like most females? Which is another trait I'm noticing in the females that don't display the blue worming down the gill flank. I'm curious to see yours

I think she just looks like a normal female w/ zero facial markings except the typical spangles around the eyes

 

[Athletic_Amph]

Definitely post a picture when you get a moment. I'd love to see her

 

[Frank Castle]

Definitely post a picture when you get a moment. I'd love to see her

will do, but 1st I gotta go pick up my new Kelberi

 

[Athletic_Amph]

Slight sidetrack: I've always wondered this, and am hoping someone on MFK can possibly chime in with more info? But the Rocio genus is comprised of 4 species; Octofasciata, Gemmata, Ocotal, and Spinosissima. I'm curios if the (accidental) hybridization of the first three has anything to do with the issue we are currently discussing (Spinosissima looks nothing like the JD's so I won't include them).

Also, if the three different species has anything to do with the EBJD... perhaps one of the species carries the blue gene while the other two don't? I'll always wonder