Jack Dempseys QQ

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DeathStalker

DeathStalker

Candiru
MFK Member
Apr 8, 2015
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How many variations of these are there? I have a LARGE (~5") scintilated fish and it sure looks like some pics identified as a Dempsey, but then I see others that have a spot on the mid-rear sides.

Just curious if some peeps could post their pics :)

I'll see if I can get a clear pic of mine.

Thanks!
 
The variations occur as they grow, and what mood the fish are in. There are also line bred versions of electric blueJD, golden JD, or JD with purplish hues in the body.
 
There can be hundreds of variations.
A JD that's ancestors were from Cenote Azul may be quite different than those from a Centote 10 miles down the road like Cenote Escondido.
Natural selection may determine what colors are more easily seen by predators, (so who survives to breed, and who doesn't, and pass on color, and other genes) on what substrate, rock formations or even on aquatic or overhanging terrestrial plant life.
Add to that all the line bred types selective breeding creates since JDs became popular in aquariums 100 years ago.
Compare the JDs in a very clear water, and open Eden Cenote video.
Eden2
With another Cenote not far away, with very white (bright) type rock terrain. Also note how the JDs blend into rock crevices.
And its not only JDs, compare the other cichlids Mayaheros uropthalmus lighter colors with the the ones from Cenote Azul (last video below)
027 zps4b102ffd
or in Cenote Crystal a few blocks away (where water is more turbid, and overhanging plants shade parts of the inner littoral zone)
JDs and Catfish of Cenote Cristalino
Cenote Azul
Azul imovie edit
 
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JDs with standard coloration seem to vary a lot in dominant color. Some are more black and red, some are lighter with more green and blue, some have a lot of purple and pink spangling. They all seem to share some combination of those colors though. Depends on mood too.

The color morphs i know are Electric blue, golden, platinum, and pink but theres bound to be others.
 
JD’s vary allot in attitude. I had some that were very calm and my current male is opposite. Hes not a maniac thrashing the other fish but whatever he did to gain dominance over the tank must have been very clear to the other fish. Hes about 6.5” and shares a 150 gallon tank with a male jag thats slightly bigger than the JD. The tank also has a male carpinti thats just as big as the JD if not slightly larger. The carpinti and jag can be squabbling over territory and the JD swims up and they will seperate and move out of his way. The jag can swim into his spot he defends from the other fish but if the JD swims over he vacates and lets the JD do whatever he wants.
When they were younger and dominance was less established the JD would take fierce slashes at any fish that didnt show him enough respect. Even now if the fish dont show him enough respect he will take a run just to reinforce who the boss is. Hes a great fish with lots of color and personality. JD’s are one of my all time favorite fish.
The pic in the link is a male JD.
 
Mine seems to just hang out behind a BIG chunk of driftwood I have, rarely moves across the tank (125gal), but does occasionally.
I was thinking of adding another one (once I find a place for the babies - LFS said they'd take them in trade, but can't get out there right now, lol).

They are really beautiful when they get larger.
 
DeathStalker said:
Mine seems to just hang out behind a BIG chunk of driftwood I have, rarely moves across the tank (125gal), but does occasionally.
I was thinking of adding another one (once I find a place for the babies - LFS said they'd take them in trade, but can't get out there right now, lol).

They are really beautiful when they get larger.
Click to expand...

My experience keeping a JD long term was disappointing on the whole. Beautiful fish, but he was downright boring as far as personality went and never took to eating pellets, always eating my rainbowfish and tetras instead. Wouldnt come out of his cave while in his own tank, would start trouble in my community tank. As his final act of disappointment, He choked to death on a syno cat.
 
'Jack Dempseys' as we've known them have recently been broken up in to two separate species. Rocio octofasciata and now Rocio ocatol.
It most certainly likely that ALLLLLLL these years the ones in the aquarium trade have been hybrids of the two. Jeff Rapps was just recently in Mexico and found Rocio ocatal easily but was unable to find fry to net and get into the trade as a pure fish. Maybe next time.
 
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