Peacocks (Aulonocara) with my Jack Dempsey?

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seedubs1

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Feb 28, 2011
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My JD is a male. I'm thinking about getting a bigger tank for him. Maybe a 75 gal?

Would 4 assorted male peacocks work out ok with my JD (he's 7-8 inches right now)? Not sure if they would be compatible, and don't want my jd to either be beaten up or beat up some other fish.

I'll obviously have a well planted tank with some good hiding spots.

I've also got a bristlenose pleco that'll be going in with them. He holds his own :D
 
I have a huge 11" JD now with 2 6" peacocks, and I wouldnt recommend it. Those peacocks pick on eachother, and the Jack, and he doesnt do too much to defend himself. He's too big and bulky and the peacocks are too fast. The one just picks on him for fun, I think. Would like to get rid of the meaner peacock, but I love him.... anyway, that setup is not particularly working out for me.....
 
I had a JD with some peacocks a couple years ago and the JD kept getting sick, I also wouldn't recomend it.
 
Yeah, after this, I'll have to find something else to put in with the JD. Looks like Peacocks and my JD would be a definite no go.

I still want some peacocks, though. Any idea on how just 4 of these males would do together with maybe a pleco (no females, so hopefully not too much fighting)? And what size tank I'd need (thinking a 55 or 75?). This might be my next set-up.
 
seedubs1;4967387; said:
Yeah, after this, I'll have to find something else to put in with the JD. Looks like Peacocks and my JD would be a definite no go.

I still want some peacocks, though. Any idea on how just 4 of these males would do together with maybe a pleco (no females, so hopefully not too much fighting)? And what size tank I'd need. This might be my next set-up.
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They'd probably be good in a 55 for a long time. I definitely would not go smaller than that. You may be able to get away with a 40B for a while while the are small, but the 4' length would work better imo.
 
Nice. Was hoping a 55 would work. They're cheap and readily available on Craigslist :)

Any info as to if Peacocks will do well if they are all males?
 
seedubs1;4967401; said:
Nice. Was hoping a 55 would work. They're cheap and readily available on Craigslist :)

Any info as to if Peacocks will do well if they are all males?
Click to expand...

So long as you mix different species with very different colors, you should be fine. Putting in two that may be different species, but similar coloration will bring out aggression (maleri/benga, maylandi/kandeense, etc). Jakes will typically be the largest, most aggressive of the bunch, wigh OB peacocks also being up there in aggression.

Here's a good starting point with some of the more common peacocks. If it were me, I'd shoot to start with 5-6 in a 55 to spread aggression.

-Eureka Jake/Otter Point/caroli
-Benga or maleri or flavenscent
-Lwanda
-Stuartgranti Ngara
-A maylandi or A kandeense
-Bicolor or red shoulder
-Ruby red
-OB (avoid imo because they are tough to sex to ensure a male)

Also, avoid lemon Jakes (Undu reef). I have a giant male and have bred them before, but they are consistently the meanest peacock out there.
 
Very good info. That's awesome that I can do more than 4 in a 55. This tank is going to rock :)

Now I've got to try and find a good 55 for cheap. I'm sure someone bought one for their kids for Christmas and they're sick of it already and wants to sell it to me for cheap on Craigslist :)
 
You could actually keep more than 5-6 Africans in a 55. I've done it and so have others. Just depends on how much work you want to invest and what kind of look you want. With 5-6, you could still have aggression issues.
 
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