Problem Fish

[Kevin Greif]

I've just recently bought an electric blue jack dempsey (less than and inch) and im having a hard time getting him to eat or swim anywhere but the corners of the tank. is this just because he is so small or could it be stress related? and what is the best way to get him to eat..

thanks

 

[thefishguy7]

Electric blue jack dempsey of that size are extremely fragile. They need multiple grow-out tanks to thrive and the size of the tank should not be too big for them- or they will die.
Same goes for tank mates, they should be kept alone until they reach 3", they shouldn't be kept with anything aggressive until they reach 5".

 

[Militis]

Is he by him self or does he have other tank mates because the other fish are most likely bigger and he is crapping himself so yer.

 

[invisyblegypsey]

i got 3 @1 1/2" each and have them in a 10 gal for now with a small hob filter
i use flakes at first grind them kinda small in my fingers and now i have them on forzen blood worms took a few days to get them going good but they snaped out of it and now cant wait to be fed when i walk up to the tank make sure you dont have to much current makes it stressfuul for them to swim

 

[Kevin Greif]

well hes in a 10g with 4 fancy tail guppies and a little rainbow shark. but i got a net breeding cage that i used to use for breeding guppies and i isolated him in that so no of the other fish can get to him and he is closer to the surface so feeding is easier..

im used to the growth speed of oscars, but how fast do you predict this guy to grow?

 

[53special]

The Shark may be part of the problem. Are there places for him to hide in the tank. When I had mine, they hid most of the time until they got to about 2". They loved the caves.