i just recently bought a 8in jack dempsey i had him in my 60 gal tank but he was picking on my other fish so i put him in a 40 gal alone. now he lays on the bottom all day and is very skittish. he flips out when i go near the tank and swimms into everything is this normal for jack dempseys?
jack dempsey
- Thread starter pdegal331
- Start date
was the 40 cycled before you added the JD?
Its sounds like stress from being moved mixed with ammonia flashing
Its sounds like stress from being moved mixed with ammonia flashing
Jacks are known for this when not given the right environment - I've had two that ended up on the floor from psychotic behavior like this.
Even the biggest jacks like to have a hideout to retreat to when necessary - just make sure you have a big clay pot in there or a cave along with some floating plants.
Also keep the lights low - bright lights scare most fish, especially when just getting used to a new environment.
Give him some time, and proper cover and he should lighten up a bit.
Even the biggest jacks like to have a hideout to retreat to when necessary - just make sure you have a big clay pot in there or a cave along with some floating plants.
Also keep the lights low - bright lights scare most fish, especially when just getting used to a new environment.
Give him some time, and proper cover and he should lighten up a bit.
Do a 30% water change. Also dim those lights. I have a 4 ft tank with some plecos and red hook silver dollars and I use a flurescent light off a ten gallon tank. That is bright enough. I can easily see my fish and it also give them dark spots to hang out. When I had the light that came with the tank my fish acted just as yours did.
Before worrying about lights and all that jazz, Make sure your water is suitable for sustaining life. Go get a water test kit just to make sure your JD isnt just dieing in that water.
Its my guess the water killed the Eel too. It certainly wasnt the lights.
Im guessing the tank isnt cycled properly.
Its my guess the water killed the Eel too. It certainly wasnt the lights.
Im guessing the tank isnt cycled properly.
good advice ...
it's also an 8" JD in a 40G tank, which is woefully small ... not surprised at all that he's not a happy fish ...
it's also an 8" JD in a 40G tank, which is woefully small ... not surprised at all that he's not a happy fish ...