New to Polys

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SomeStonedFish

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 11, 2015
95
6
8
SW PA
Ok, I've been looking into getting a delhezi. I have never kept anything like this and probably need to be talked to very slowly haha. I have a 55gal with an adult jack dempsey as the only occupant. Is the 55 too small? If it is, is there a poly I'd be able to humanely keep in a 55? My Jack is 9" long, should I be worried about him when the poly is full grown? What do I feed? My jack is extremely picky pellet wise, so if I can get him on pellets I'll be fine with getting him to eat. Any tips or suggestions are very welcome. There isn't very much info on the internet, if you know of a link or two please send it my way.

PS: standard 48"x13" footprint.

Thanks
 
55 is about right . 55 to 75 would do. JD will be curious in the beginning but it be all right. Bichirs are not picky pellet tilapia what ever all good. Jumpers so keep then covered
 
My concern would be if the Jack would allow tankmates. While most fish seem like they could care less about a bihir, an established cichlid may have a different thought on the matter. I would want a contingency plan in place just in case. Another tank to move the bichir into if something happens.
 
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Agree with the prior post from dmd. Ca cichlids are hit or miss, no one will be able to say if it will allow a tankmate to exist in an established tank. Do you have another tank you could move the del into if things dont work out ?

I've had cichlids completely ignore my polys and didnt view them as competition and other times they were relentlessly attacked
 
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Rearrange the tank if you get the delhezi, the JD might be less territorial. But you might get lucky and have a relaxed Jack
 
I'd say the footprints a bit tight for a del. People told me mine wouldn't exceed 12" at best and he's currently at 13.5"ish...lol
 
I have a 75 with 2 severums but I feel like I'd be pushing the bioload. Though I could keep it in there until I'm able to rehome it. Besides that no I don't have another suitable tank for him.

I'm looking to get a fairly good sized one. I'm hoping that will discourage my jack from acting up. Cause he won't tolerate dithers. They have nearly full grown to full grown polys at the lfs I go to.
 
55g are right on the fringe of whats acceptable for polys. You could technically fit senegals, or most dels (just not the freakish 13.5" ones hahaha) in a 55g. The only thing is that those are 2 of the most active polys. So even though you are putting them in a tank that is "technically" big enough for them. It really limits what they can do and how much they can roam comfortably. I've never had JDs, but from what everyone is saying I'd probably get at minimum at 5"-6" poly and watch it carefully after you introduce it to the tank.
 
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