My Jack Dempsey is a wimp

[FriedFlowerHornFillet]

Green Terrors are not good tankmates for JD's. I would recommend against adding other cichlids at all actually. Groups of 7 or more Swordtails/platies/mollies and giant danios are good options. If you really want to add more cichlids down the road you need caves and runs (caves with two or more exits). You mentioned your fish not defending itself and just fleeing. That is a classic sign of no cover. JD"s are chickens OR MAYBE THEY LIKE COVER
Once mine felt "at home" it came out more- now I feed it by hand.

 

[gavinh87]

There is plenty of cover, I'll upload a full tank shot when I get home. Mollies, platies in a 120g, really!?

 

[ehh]

There is plenty of cover, I'll upload a full tank shot when I get home. Mollies, platies in a 120g, really!?

Yeah, why not lol. They live in rivers after all

 

[Stang725]

Yeah, why not lol. They live in rivers after all

Yeah, I scooped up my 5 remaining tetras that were in my 240 yesterday and took them to a new home at the LFS... too small for such a big tank and worried somebody would eat them eventually, as everyone else continues to grow out in that tank.....

 

[gavinh87]

Just thought its a bit of a waste of space given their size. Plus I've had all those types when I was a kid, I want something a bit more manly now lol.

 

[blue fish]

Just thought its a bit of a waste of space given their size. Plus I've had all those types when I was a kid, I want something a bit more manly now lol.

If you think jack dempsey are sissys, add a male and female breeding pair to the tank and watch the carnage. They will own their territory be it left side, right side, or all of it if they see fit. I raise regulars, bgjd, and ebjd and the female regs. and bg females are more of a terror than the male ebjd. The regular males are ruthless when breeding. Good luck

 

[vinod_uthaiah]

I have a male but it stands its ground with 2 Pbass , 1 jaguar and 1 Midevil.

 

[FriedFlowerHornFillet]

Do you just want to watch your fish kill each other? I would suggest perhaps getting a piscavore. A fish that eats fish might be your thing. Nothing wussy about utter destruction. If you want to attempt a "cichlid community tank" I would strongly recommend dithers. There certainly are more options than live bearers. I use giant danios with great success, some people are really into barbs. I've been looking into roseline sharks they look incredible full grown en masse.