Jack dempsey
- Thread starter monique2212
- Start date
Males grow to 8-10" and females 6-7", depending on how old they are.
Don't house them with small fish, as the small fish are likely to be eaten, especially when the JDs are juveniles.
Dunno how many you got, but you can anticipate that they will start killing each other off as they grow and mature, until only one male and a female or two are left, if you keep them all in the same tank.
Minimum tank size is 55g for a bonded pair of adult JDs or a single male.
They can be sexed, growth rate differentiation aside, by physical characteristics (body color and irridescent speckling pattern): the male fish is the larger specimen in both pics.
View attachment 1108054
Don't house them with small fish, as the small fish are likely to be eaten, especially when the JDs are juveniles.
Dunno how many you got, but you can anticipate that they will start killing each other off as they grow and mature, until only one male and a female or two are left, if you keep them all in the same tank.
Minimum tank size is 55g for a bonded pair of adult JDs or a single male.
They can be sexed, growth rate differentiation aside, by physical characteristics (body color and irridescent speckling pattern): the male fish is the larger specimen in both pics.
View attachment 1108054
does anyone have a rational explanation for the color differentials? I purchased two JD's at the same time of very close aproxx. size, one is pitch black with bright blue spots, the other is much lighter in color, but seems to get dark when stressed 
Cichlids, among many other fish, can dramatically alter body color tone, depending on their mood.butane216 said:does anyone have a rational explanation for the color differentials? I purchased two JD's at the same time of very close aproxx. size, one is pitch black with bright blue spots, the other is much lighter in color, but seems to get dark when stressed
Dark tone equates to confidence/dominance/contentness
Light is stressed/scared/unhappy
Jack Dempseys are usually darker in color when they are doing good and get this lighter color when they are stressed.butane216 said:does anyone have a rational explanation for the color differentials? I purchased two JD's at the same time of very close aproxx. size, one is pitch black with bright blue spots, the other is much lighter in color, but seems to get dark when stressed
Dominant fish often show the darkest and brightest coloration if that makes sense.
Ones that are BEING dominated often "pale out" due to fear
(You get in a small ring alone with a pissed off Mike Tyson and you will pale out too!) (Call him washed up and then run like hell!!!)
Offer plenty of hiding places as refuge and perhaps put some "Dither" fish in with them(Other fish that can be put in basically to act as alternate targets so that the aggression is distributed instead of focused on one fish) Barbs...cats..etc
Im sure other people here have good ideas also, probably better than mine, but this is what I would do.
Or buy more tanks!!!!!
Take care,
Aztec Fred
Aztec Reptiles
Ones that are BEING dominated often "pale out" due to fear
(You get in a small ring alone with a pissed off Mike Tyson and you will pale out too!) (Call him washed up and then run like hell!!!)
Offer plenty of hiding places as refuge and perhaps put some "Dither" fish in with them(Other fish that can be put in basically to act as alternate targets so that the aggression is distributed instead of focused on one fish) Barbs...cats..etc
Im sure other people here have good ideas also, probably better than mine, but this is what I would do.
Or buy more tanks!!!!!
Take care,
Aztec Fred
Aztec Reptiles
i hate to continue this topic under this thread, but i have to add, the only fish that causes any real trouble in my tank is th ered zebra i have, he is th eONLY survivor of a nasty algae bloom i had in the early spring, all the other fish are more recent additions, so I'm beginning think my zebra gets territorial on the entire tank, the only other fish is doesnt bother is my oscar, whom usually breaks up the zebra's aggressive tantrums...
well, then one of your JD's takes the punishment with petulant attitude, while the other is scared silly, or one of your JD's stays pale because if he doesn't, the other JD will go after him more often.
zebras and other mbuna are capable fish, but mine have always submitted to the Americans once the Americans outgrew them
zebras and other mbuna are capable fish, but mine have always submitted to the Americans once the Americans outgrew them