Jack Dempsey tank size
- Thread starter Spence
- Start date
So why do we adhere to such a large recommended tank size for these? I'm not in anyway saying it's wrong, but just wondering why the recommended size is at least 75 but probably should be bigger. Is it one of those cases where just in case you get an active JD then the space is needed? Seems almost like a 50-50 split on these guys on whether they move around or not.
JDs are fairly large waste producers so the more volume of water you have to dilute the waste the better for the health of the fish.
As others have stated not all JDs are logs, some need swimming space.
I think part of it is that even if your JD doesn't move around much, he should have the space to if he so chooses. to keep it in a smaller tank for a behavioral issue which very well may be temporary, or caused by some factor which you control (know it or not) , doesn't seem like the answer to me.
More info would help; Can you post a picture of your tank? Is there lots of cover other than his log? any floating plants, or décor in the upper reaches? How bright is your light? How tall is your stand? and are there any other fish in the tank currently? All could possibly be making the JD feel uncomfortable.
I’m not sure if this was directed at my comment but I wasn’t agreeing with the OP in keeping the JDs in a smaller tank bc they don’t swim.
I agree with you that they should have the space for if the choose to utilize it!
I’ve tried everything regarding his tank and tank mates (mollies, tetras, pictus cats, baby green terrors have all been with him at one time or another) to get him moving...he just seems content to not move. He has chosen different hiding spots when different decorations have been used, so he finds his space and sticks to it. I typically don’t use a light on his tank but I have a small marineland led that I sometimes turn on. Most of the light is natural light and indirect at that. His stand is about 4 ft tall I’d say. And I work right in front of his tank (about 5 feet away) for 8-12 hrs a day, so I’d think he’d be used to me being there. I have accepted the fact that this is how he chooses to behave. So while I don’t necessarily think they should be kept in smaller tanks, and I’m not moving him to a smaller tank as the next size down that I have is just a 29 gallon, I was just wondering what the common thought was on why such a large tank is needed. I totally understand the dilution of waste. But in my case swimming space is not a concern. And I’m not even kidding when I sat that as he doesn’t even swim enough that I’ve seen him turn around...he just kind of slowly backs up into his spot if he ventures a little ways out. I should have added that he use to swim around when he was much younger maybe at 3 or 4 inches.
Perhaps you could add a breeding pair of convincts? My thought process is that the breeding convicts will become aggressive once breeding and will attempt to attack the jack demseys but they won't take that so they'll chase them off every time they come near them. Just a thought.
That does sound like a good idea. I just don’t think it will work.
Sure if you want to see movement in your tank go ahead and add them. But I don’t think you should expect much change in the jd behaviour. My JDs let the HRPs breed and wait until the fry are free swimming before eating them...couple of days maybe a week and all fry are gone and JDs back to their “spots”
My JDs do the same swim move of backing up without turning around. As they grow and age they do become less active...I think you have a normal jd!
just add some fish to the tank that you know will constantly show themselves and let the jd do his own thing. Even if that means impersonating a log, my jd does the same thing. I only see him at feeding time
