jd tips
- Thread starter mofisher
- Start date
I've had JDs for just over a year and tried several tank mates including australian red claw crayfish, american red crayfish, gouramis, bala sharks, rainbow sharks, clown loaches, african cichlids, other JDs, small plecos, goldfish, convict cichlids, dwarf african frogs, eels, etc.
My experience is... they always end up eating whatever is small enough and killing everything else. The red claw crayfish lasted pretty long because these can (and will) easily kill any fish that gets close... but they eventually have to molt and get killed fast lol (the redclaws also eat JDs.. it all depends on the size really).
The only fish that haven't been killed immediately is other jack dempseys, but once you get a mated pair they will make the rest completely miserable until they end up dying or you take them out.
My experience is... they always end up eating whatever is small enough and killing everything else. The red claw crayfish lasted pretty long because these can (and will) easily kill any fish that gets close... but they eventually have to molt and get killed fast lol (the redclaws also eat JDs.. it all depends on the size really).
The only fish that haven't been killed immediately is other jack dempseys, but once you get a mated pair they will make the rest completely miserable until they end up dying or you take them out.
My JD is a year old and is a MEAN as they come. At a very young age it ate a giant danio, chased a dragon goby out of the tank, bullied a bichir. Then as it grew to size it bullied a pleco, ate about 12 buenos aires tetra's that were full grown and bullied a full grown convict and firemouth at the same time.
I think there are cases of more community friendly JD's but mine is not one of them.
I would say a 55g or 75g would be good for a single JD with a few other tank mates. If going in with more CA/SA cichlids or larger fish, I would go with as big a tank as possible 125g+.
I think there are cases of more community friendly JD's but mine is not one of them.
I would say a 55g or 75g would be good for a single JD with a few other tank mates. If going in with more CA/SA cichlids or larger fish, I would go with as big a tank as possible 125g+.
The biggest thing is the temperament of the individual fish. If it's too small of a tank you could have a problem. The absolute smallest I'd suggest is a 75g. Especially if you're wanting to add tankmates, then I'd lean to a 90g.
Jacks are NOT the devil, why someone unless they knew nothing about them would keep them with small community tetras, goldfish, dwarf frogs, and a dragon goby is beyond me(Dragon Goby really? its been said repeatedly and a simple google search will say straight up they need brackish). I keep 2 jacks and they do fine with the fish I've kept them with. Keep them with other American cichlids of similar temperment, or big dumm hardy fish like tin foil barbs, silver dollars and balas and they will eventually realize "oh, these are big dumb fish and pose no threat, I'll let them be". My experience, a jack will "test" a new fish, letting it know he runs the show, if that fish is to little or doesnt back down it may be killed. Given ample space and knowing your fish's personality is key. A 55 is only really suitable for 1 adult jack(mine was in a 55 by himself for about 2 yrs), However, I have kept him (an 8" male jack) with juvenile cichlids in a 55 successfully but this was short term, about 4 months (I was growing them out for my big tanks) he didnt kill any of the babies. He know lives with several of these growouts in the perm tank. Oh if it makes any difference to you, he is 3 yrs old. The point I'm trying to make is that every jack is different, don't expect a killer or a peace loving hippie jack, they are all different. Check my signature for fish that have worked for me, he has been with all of them except for tiger barbs, cories and the pleco at one point in time.
I have a 7" JD that shares a tank with 5 giant danios, a range of large 7" to small 2" africans, 10" pleco, pictus catfish , a snow white lobster and 2 snails and never had an issue with each other but the JD is head honcho in the tank. first dibs on all food lol. going so well actually im scrapping that setup i might put the JD with my 2 tiger oscars and 3 orinos in my new 210" lol fingers crossed
a 55G is the min size I would keep a single male JD in ... I'd prefer to see 75G, for the extra width ... 90G not necessary, since they don't need the extra height
fish I've successfully kept with JD include: convicts, firemouth, salvini, plecos, barbs
fish that did not do well with my JDs: green terror
I did not notice much aggression from my JDs at all ... even the time I kept one with a GT, it would bully the GT into hiding, but never killed it or anything ... but each fish is unique ... you can only research tendencies ...
fish I've successfully kept with JD include: convicts, firemouth, salvini, plecos, barbs
fish that did not do well with my JDs: green terror
I did not notice much aggression from my JDs at all ... even the time I kept one with a GT, it would bully the GT into hiding, but never killed it or anything ... but each fish is unique ... you can only research tendencies ...
i kept a few JD's with other american cichlids (green terror, jaguar, midevil, oscars) in a grow out tank for a while and they were the bottom of the "food chain".
I've heard that some people don't recommend this, but i've never had any problems keeping american cichlids with bichirs. Just make sure one isn't so big that it could eat the other. I'd make sure that the bichir is bigger than the JD when you start them though. (bichirs are fairly slow growing)
I've heard that some people don't recommend this, but i've never had any problems keeping american cichlids with bichirs. Just make sure one isn't so big that it could eat the other. I'd make sure that the bichir is bigger than the JD when you start them though. (bichirs are fairly slow growing)
I have successfully kept JD's with: Salvinis, Convicts, Firemouths, Texas, Synodontis Cats, Giant Danios, Crayfish, and Blood Parrots.
Oddly enough my JD's have disliked GT's and Texas cichlids the most, whether they find them similar in shape or color, they tolerate them the least.
Currently I have a male JD with 5 giant danios and a cray in a 55 gallon and have no problems, I have in the past done a mated pair with no other tankmates in a 55 before.
As far as temperment goes they are just average cichlid attitude, not mean but not peaceful either, just kind of mid range.
Oddly enough my JD's have disliked GT's and Texas cichlids the most, whether they find them similar in shape or color, they tolerate them the least.
Currently I have a male JD with 5 giant danios and a cray in a 55 gallon and have no problems, I have in the past done a mated pair with no other tankmates in a 55 before.
As far as temperment goes they are just average cichlid attitude, not mean but not peaceful either, just kind of mid range.