Jack dempsey max size

[Montelboom]

I know they get at least ten inches for males but I know sometimes the size can vary and I want to know what's the biggest and smallest JD and what size/shape tank they were in.

 

[Crazy mike]

My 8 inch male who was raised in 125 .he's about a decade old if not a little older unfortunately he wasn't always taken care of in the early years so I don't think he's at maximum potential or ever will be

Sent from my VS840 4G

 

[duanes]

I have seen old, lone, males in the cenotes of Mexico that were at least 10", and plenty in cenotes around 8". But the largest I've seen were a pair, years ago in the Shedd aquarium that were more like 12+", they were the only fish, except their cloud of fry in a 200+ gallon tank.
Size in aquariums is based on amount of water changes, how large the tank is, whether or not conditions are crowded, and probably least important food.
I have watched them graze on algae and detritus in nature, and only occasionally make a successful strike on the live bearers they are surrounded by.

 

[Mr.Manaconda]

Wish I could find pics, but I had a 13" male with an 8" female when I was younger...had them for close to 10 years.

 

[Montelboom]

Thanks for the info its interesting that some species of fish can exceed their wild counter parts estimated maximum size. I asked because my friend claimed he had a "black 15inch JD" it turned out to be a Dovi :|

 

[suprd71]

I have a 9in male in a 7ft 265g. Big Oscar,Gold Sev, small GT and Convict as tankmates. Oscar and JD are few months short of 3yrs each. I consider the tank full btw. All fish doing well with ample room and 2x weekly large w/c.

 

[pops]

Wish I could find pics, but I had a 13" male with an 8" female when I was younger...had them for close to 10 years.

13"
male JD, would have love to see that. mines about 9" and 3 years old.

 

[Mr.Manaconda]

13"
male JD, would have love to see that. mines about 9" and 3 years old.

Yeah, he died my Sr. Year of college (1998). I put him in my folks deep freezer hoping I'd have a taxidermist mount him...Dad cleaned out the freezer, and that was that. One of the first "real" fish I had that got me hooked on this hobby.

 

[Dave Counts]

I know they get at least ten inches for males but I know sometimes the size can vary and I want to know what's the biggest and smallest JD and what size/shape tank they were in.

I have a 12" male JD and got him from a local shop when he was about 10" they raised him in a 100 Gallon tank.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I have a 12" male JD and got him from a local shop when he was about 10" they raised him in a 100 Gallon tank.

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That is a monster JD!

I have also snorkeled in Cenotes in mexico with colonies of jack dempseys. The largest ones I saw, looked to be about 8". I could not measure them obviously, but my eye is pretty decent.