Jaguar advice please

[Wesley M]

I just bought a 2 inch jaguar cichlid. I wasn't planning on getting it but itwad gorgeous. Fins are in perfect condition and have vivid nourish green spots, its body is a deep gold and the black spots and markings are dark and contrast awesomely and the fish is only 2 inches long.I couldn't pass it up. Anyways, the problem is its in with a male and female jack dempsy that are both close to 7 inches, one 5.5 inch red devil, and 2 three inch GTs, and some other smaller cichlids that are equal size to the jag. I know that there has high risk for it getting eaten so I have been monitering the tank as often as possible and keeping the fish all well fed. Especially the big ones. How long until I don't really have to worry about the jag getting killed? I am sure he will grow faster than the other fish, but I'm not sure when he will catch up.

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[Mythic Figment]

I just bought a 2 inch jaguar cichlid. I wasn't planning on getting it but itwad gorgeous. Fins are in perfect condition and have vivid nourish green spots, its body is a deep gold and the black spots and markings are dark and contrast awesomely and the fish is only 2 inches long.I couldn't pass it up. Anyways, the problem is its in with a male and female jack dempsy that are both close to 7 inches, one 5.5 inch red devil, and 2 three inch GTs, and some other smaller cichlids that are equal size to the jag. I know that there has high risk for it getting eaten so I have been monitering the tank as often as possible and keeping the fish all well fed. Especially the big ones. How long until I don't really have to worry about the jag getting killed? I am sure he will grow faster than the other fish, but I'm not sure when he will catch up.

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It will be 2-3 months before you won't have anything to worry about. Just make sure there are plenty of places where it can hide that the others cannot get to and it will likely be fine. I wouldn't worry about it being eaten so much as aggression from other fish killing it....still, the result is the same.


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[Jc1119]

Really depends on wether the jds let the jag eat..... If food competition is high growth with be a bit slower. My 8" JD still lip locks my 12" Jag in every tank I've tried them together in.

Individual temperament and spawning will have a large bearing too. Just be ready to move fish around if need be


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[dougjeffries]

I put a 2 inch male Jag in my 125 gallon with a 8 inch Freddy and a 7 inch Texas. He can stay out of the way of the bigger boys and is growing nicely. Try to add him and see what happens. You will know pretty fast if it will work out. As long as they let him eat and do not force him into the top corners of the tank, he should be good to go. Goid luck!

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[rorreterror]

It all depends on your other fish. Like stated before you'll find out soon enough if it will work. How big is your tank? Did you re-arrange before adding him? Is he allowed to eat by others? Honestly, IMO I would just get another tank and grow him out a bit. I can understand not being able to pass up a good deal (trust me) but you also have to take into account whether or not you will be able to provide the space, living conditions etc. needed for this monster.
Either way... good luck!

 

[Wesley M]

Thanks for the helpful replies. I have been watching him or her for a while and it's not that they don't let him eat, he just gets intimidated by them. When I drop the food in my fish go crazy like they are starved (despite the fact that I feed 2 large meals per day), and they are swimming crazy fast and gulping food like its their last meal. This means that I have 5 fish spasticaly swimming through the sinking food, and my little 2 inch Jag is scared to get in there haha He started being bullies by the 2.5 inch Mayan and was forced in the corner. I have moved him to my 30 gallon. He is alone with a jack dempsey of equal size. I am hoping he will outgrow the jack dempsey and take over the tank and get his confidence up. Then when he is settled and very sociable and big headed I want to put him into the big tank. Hopefully around 4 inches he will be able to over take the 7 inch male dempsey that owns the big tank. Does this sound like a good plan? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. as far as my other fish, I am getting rid of the mayan, small jd, one of the green terrors, and possibly one of the larger jack dempseys. Which leaves me with one green terror, one 7 inch JD, one 6 inch Midevil, one Jag, and 2 convicts. I am getting a 40 breeder for my birthday. I will move the JD and green terror to the 40, convicts in the 30, and the midevil and jag in the 90. Does this sound like a good plan? Atleast for now. I am looking for a 100 plus gallon on craigslist for a cheap price so I can separate the midevil and jag because I know they wont workout forever. my 85 is 6 ft L x 15 W x 18 H so there is a good amount of swimming space. Plenty of room to hold a jag for the next year. comments are appreciated!