Jack dempseys shy and sluggish. Tips

[fhawk362]

So I have a breeding pair of jds and they're just kinda shy and stay behind plants. They seem more active with lights off. I was thinking of rearranging the tank to maybe spark up their environ but am worried this might stress them. What do you think and any suggestions? They have plenty of cover and use it. Anyone else's jds act like this.


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[lp85253]

IMO some jd's are outgoing and some shy... hard to say what might work best ..but as long as you dont stress them anything might help...

 

[Jc1119]

Dithers could help. Giant danios or some thing along those lines. Space permitting of course.


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[Judge Holden]

Good article on JD shyness: http://www.freewebs.com/oscarcare/jackdempseybehavior.htm
Maybe try dimming the lights by wrapping foil around a portion of them. My JD takes frequent naps, but at other times he's all over the place. How big is your tank?

 

[tiger15]

I had several JD before, and they were all shy. Dither fish like Danios don't work for me. What worked for me were boisterous African cichlids, smaller but meaner than the JD. They were constantly moving, and fighting among themselves to draw the attention of JD away from his hiding place. I guess convicts, firemouth and other smaller cichlid tankmates would work. The more tankmates the better and never keep JD as a loner.

 

[tommybhermitage]

125


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[Judge Holden]

I guess convicts, firemouth and other smaller cichlid tankmates would work.

If my JD is snoozing, my FM & Con are out and about. JDs might be the hound dogs of the cichlid family.

 

[duanes]

In nature JDs are surrounded by dithering live bearers such as sailfin mollies, perhaps 100 to 1. They also tend to stay in sunny areas, but very close to caves or crevices they can dash into in case danger approaches.

 

[fhawk362]

Thanks guys. The lights are pretty dim already. I might try adding some mollies since I can find them in the waterways here. Currently they're in a 40. When I move I'm getting them a 75. The size is pretty limiting right now. Although they're not full grown.


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[Cloves4Oscar]

Try feeding him live food...ours was shy until he got a taste for blood. Now as soon as I go close to the tank him and the Jag are up against the glass doing their headshakes and begging me to throw their next victim in to their anxiously awaiting mouths.