My EBJD saga

[adixon816]

Just thought I would share my experiences thus far with EBJD's. I have had a lot of "issues" for lack of a better word. The first EBJD I got was not an EBJD so he was returned to the LFS for store credit - he was a nice fish but not what I was looking for. The next one I got came from the Fish Hut here in NJ and I had also ordered two more from a breeder on aquabid. They were all super shy and skittish and wouldn't eat so on a recommendation I added pristella tetra's and neon tetra's as dither fish to help. The fish didn't seem to do much except spook the EBJD's some more - they hid a lot.

Kept up on my normal bi-weekly WC's and slowly they started to accept my flake and pellet food. Fast forward a few days and once the largest one got comfortable, all hell broke loose. Over the course of three days he killed all 10 neon tetra's and 4/6 of the pristella. I rehomed the two smallest EBJD for fear of him taking them out to. He was not peaceful as some claim EBJD's to be but a cichlids still a cichlid so I understand that. He mostly attacked at night when the lights were off (opportunity maybe?). Now he comes and greets me when I'm near the tank, he's still a bit skittish during feeding time but eats readily. I will post some pics tomorrow after the camera is done charging. He was approx 2" when I got him and seems to have grown around half an inch in the last 2 weeks (could be my imagination though). Just thought I'd share what happened and say that so far the fish is very rewarding and all fish are not created equal and your mileage may vary.

 

[Azedenkae]

Sometimes - in fact most of the time, placidity does not quite correlate with a lack of hunting instinct. Most fish (except for the obvious algae grazers and the likes) will very readily eat fish (which is what they do, in the wild, often) when presented the chance. Could be just that it's decided to finally find its own food. This could be the case with your EBJD.

 

[adixon816]

Well he eats pellets readily - but who knows he could have, either way he's a good looking fish and I enjoy him. Only time will tell how he turns out.

 

[BHMaloney]

I have a female EBJD that regularly devours fish - minnows, feeder goldfish, tetras, etc... My severum does the same

Ironically enough, my 11 inch male JD leaves everything in the tank alone and just minds his own business. It really does just depend on the fish

 

[steve617]

I have 3 growing in a 55 and one of mine would eat neons I would think the other two would not. Just their individual personality. I normally feed mine NLS flake and 1mm pellet along with frozen brine. Mine was skittish for about a week and now they no I give them food.

 

[adixon816]

I have 3 growing in a 55 and one of mine would eat neons I would think the other two would not. Just their individual personality. I normally feed mine NLS flake and 1mm pellet along with frozen brine. Mine was skittish for about a week and now they no I give them food.

Mine is the same way now, he realizes I am the bringer of food so he readily greets me. Neat fish though hope he turns out to be a large specimen.

 

[adixon816]

Just a little update went back to the place where I had purchased my current juvenile from and he is more than double the size of his old tankmates. Will have to get pics tomorrow as it is late again, glad that lots of water changes and a good staple pellet are doing him well.

 

[Azedenkae]

Any pics mate?

 

[adixon816]

Just a quick photo did a major cleaning today so he was hiding after and time was limited.
He was more of a tan color when I got him due to being so small, like I said he is around 2" now which he was only about an inch when I got him three weeks ago.

 

[adixon816]

Small update here, after still having some issue with eating I am treating for internal parasites. I have been treating with metro flakes that I got from kens fish 3x a day for the last 3 days and will continue for another 4 days. He is eating the metro flake with no issue so that's a really great sign, and he has become a lot more active as of late. In the tank is him and 6 turqouise rainbow fish. Since I have added them he has become much less shy and even gives chase occasionally. His blue is becoming more prominent and he is acting like a much different fish so he's turning nicely. I will have to charge the camera so I can take some more pictures of him, attached is a crappy cell phone shot.