jaguar questions

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T

TxSharker

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 1, 2010
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Texas
I was in my LFS yesterday buying some feeders and was looking around and saw a beautiful Jaguar. I debated for quite sometime about buying him. But I decided having never owned one I needed to reseach him some to see if he is something I want in one of my tanks. I really like how he wasnt shy and came right up to the glass and was watching me just as hard as I was watching him. so I decided to ask all of you more knowledgeable keepers about the quirks or things to be wary of with this type of fish. I understand the aggression issues so i'm not worried about it. Any thoughts or advice are greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance
TS
 
I looked at a poll on oscarfishlover recently under their cichlid section about the top X nastiest cichlids ever, and Jag was always #1 or #2 on their list next to Doviis. They can also get to be 18" long easily. How large is your tank?

I am pondering getting one too, but if I do, I have to get a new tank too :-P
 
Make sure that you have adequate housing or at least are prepared to get a large aquarium later. Jags are territorial so any tankmates will need to have enough room to stay away from the Jag's area to reduce the chance of damage or death. Also don't begin feeding your Jag feeders. In my experience it has been hard to take a Jag off live once it has taking a liking to it. Feeding it quality pellets as a staple with some frozen fish food is better. A few live feedings of quarantined or personally bred live food is ok on occassion.
 
a male easily reaches 14"...i have never seen one reach 18...close tho. their temperment ranges from very agressive to (like my 16.25 in)) passive and accepting of MOST tank mates.
 
Jags are lovely fish. How big was the one you saw?

The males grow to 16" tops, females smaller. And yes they can be bullys, but it depends on the individual. They'll eat anything, once they have been weaned onto it (my largest jag didnt eat pellets for three weeks because its previous owner fed it exclusively on prawns-Now it eats everything I give). Pellets should be staple, but vary it by making a mixture including prawns, white fish fillet, spinach, garlic etc. Then you can freeze it an just defrost it when you need.

Depending on what you stock it with, they will normally become the dominant fish of the tank. They will keep order within the tank, but can sometimes bully the fish, particularly if the fish has not been kept with many tank mates before. Is the fish you're interested in with tank mates or solo? This can be a good indication of whether it is particularly aggressive, and speak with the fish shop staff to find out about it.

Tank setup should have loads of filtration as they are very messy, and should be kept in a 5ft or larger tank.

Hope that helps-
 
the one I was looking at is about 8 inches and is a male the best i could tell. The guy at the store kept calling it a he while we were talking about it. he was with a couple of Jack dempsies and about 10 convicts in what appeared to be a 75 gallon tank. I run a 185 and a 75 he would go in the 185 with 2 blue acaras and few giant danios and buenos aries tetras. which I know will most likely become food.

TS
 
As far as sizes go, I've never had one hit 16". And I've had three BIG ones. Max wild caught sizes show 19" is possible, but I have to believe these are rogue status fishes. I think 16" is pretty much max in an aquarium.

They are a very active and interactive fish. Very owner responsive. Think Oscar without the goofiness. They can be aggressive towards tankmates, both same species (other Parachromis) and other cichlids. Their aggressiveness stems form them being very territorial. They will stake a claim to territory in the tank and keep others away. This may well be the whole entire tank. If the tankmates don't learn quickly enough to stay out of the jag's territory, injuries or death can occur.

Or, on the other hand, they may be completely docile and completely tolerant of tankmates. I've had good luck with all the jags I've had. That's not counting losses in smaller tanks when growing out smaller sub juveniles together. When you get a group of four to ten together in one tank, one will always usually dominate and/or kill some of the others. I've never had a batch of fry to grow out where this didn't happen. Just something to think about if you're getting a few smaller ones to grow out for a nice speciman.
 
I might leave my JD in the 185 with him so there is a larger fish in there. I can move the acaras into the small tank and leave other BA's and Danios in the big tank and if they become food oh well. the JD knocks a few of them out now and then anyway.

TS
 
I love when people talk about expecting every fish to get to max size. max size for a human male is about 7', 350lbs. but don't expect yours to get too much above 6', 190.

anyway, you got a 18 gallon tank. get the jag, put him in with the JD. hope he maxes out at 18", and weighs over 5 lbs.
 
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