Purchased Jack Dempsey

[StephenJMm]

Hello,
I Just Purchased a male Jack Dempsey, about a week ago. He is living fine in my 55 with my Female convict and Pleco. He is about 2 to 2 and half inches long, wondering how old he is?

Also it seems that there are eggs in a piece of drift wood I put in tank, cant see, but convict is attacking Dempsey when he gets to close and seem to always win the fight, I guess God made all women alike. )

Are Male Dempsey not supposed to be around eggs during the hatching period and when fry are out to protect fry?
Thank you
Stephen

 

[Boomer1224]

are you saying your Dempsey and convict bred?

 

[StephenJMm]

are you saying your Dempsey and convict bred?

Cant see the eggs, because i suspect they are inside a piece of drift wood, and the female convict is acting very territorial towards the pleco, and sometimes the male Jack Dempsey.

I know this is the behavior of how convicts act with there eggs and fry because I had cons and bred for over 5 years.

Not sure how Jacks Dempsey act with fry, I have had this Jack for 2 weeks now and not sure of its Character. By the way the male Dempsey is About 2 to 2 and half inches long was wondering roughly how old he is I?

Thank you
Stephen

 

[duanes]

Size is often "not" a good indicator of age.
If a cichlid is fed well, and receives lots of water changes, in a sparsely stocked tank, it may grow double the size of its brother living in a community tank that receives only minimal (say once per week) water changes in a well stocked tank.
With most cichlids, the female stays close guarding the eggs, while the male patrols the perimeter.
Another point, cichlids sleep at might, while Plecos are nocturnal feeders, so while the cichlids are sleeping, the Pleco may dine on the eggs.

 

[StephenJMm]

Size is often "not" a good indicator of age.
If a cichlid is fed well, and receives lots of water changes, in a sparsely stocked tank, it may grow double the size of its brother living in a community tank that receives only minimal (say once per week) water changes in a well stocked tank.
With most cichlids, the female stays close guarding the eggs, while the male patrols the perimeter.
Another point, cichlids sleep at might, while Plecos are nocturnal feeders, so while the cichlids are sleeping, the Pleco may dine on the eggs.

Thank you Duane,
for the all the good information, but I think it will be very difficult for the Pleco to get to the eggs, because of the shape of the drift wood is like a hollowed out piece with two fish rooms big enough for a convict and young jd . very difficult for my pleco to get in there, especially when there is a very nasty she-con on duty.

Today I noticed she was building a little nest / hole removing rocks another sign of eggs.

You cant give me a rough idea of the age of Dempsey, I'm assuming it was crowded with many other fish and was not taken care that well before got Dempsey. you know how these fish stores are they get the fish and want to sell right away.

Thank you,
Stephen