What did you have in mind? I've bred jacks in 29s, with tankmates, without problems...but it's far from ideal and I wouldn't do it again. 55 for a pair, 75 if you want something else with your jack.
Tank size for large Jack Dempsey
- Thread starter kiaya611
- Start date
Not all Dempseys grow to be 10", even in the best of conditions...
I've had females that were years old that never break 5"... and I've had a female that was years old and was 9.25"...
I've also had males that reach 10" and have seen them even larger...
A young pair of 4~5" Dempseys will do fine in a smaller tank, but we have to keep in mind that a young pair or 4~5" Dempseys still have a lot of growign to do. So we shuold supply them with a suitable environment to continue growing.
I have young pairs in 18" x 24" footprint tanks now, but I know these tanks won't last them forever... They are also plumbed to a large system which makes a big difference regarding water quality control.
Thor Meeki, I have also seen a quite a few large males that were raised in 55 gal tanks with severe humpbacks... but have not seen severe humpbacks nearly as often in large males raised in larger tanks.
I've had females that were years old that never break 5"... and I've had a female that was years old and was 9.25"...
I've also had males that reach 10" and have seen them even larger...
A young pair of 4~5" Dempseys will do fine in a smaller tank, but we have to keep in mind that a young pair or 4~5" Dempseys still have a lot of growign to do. So we shuold supply them with a suitable environment to continue growing.
I have young pairs in 18" x 24" footprint tanks now, but I know these tanks won't last them forever... They are also plumbed to a large system which makes a big difference regarding water quality control.
Thor Meeki, I have also seen a quite a few large males that were raised in 55 gal tanks with severe humpbacks... but have not seen severe humpbacks nearly as often in large males raised in larger tanks.
I have a 12" male JD in a 55 with two 8" Oscars just temporarily while I prepare a 75 Gallon for the JD and his future mate. They all seem to be getting along quite well in the 55 together, but it is not ideal and I am sure they will all be happier once the JD is moved into his new tank.
The answer is the biggest tank you can possibly get. Jds will defend a territory of roughly 200gallons and more.
55gallins would not even be up for consideration in my eyes.
Those that have Oscars and jds in 55s should chose smaller fish or bigger tanks.
Op I wouldn't consider a tank less than 75gallins for 1 jd and I believe that to be tight.
55gallins would not even be up for consideration in my eyes.
Those that have Oscars and jds in 55s should chose smaller fish or bigger tanks.
Op I wouldn't consider a tank less than 75gallins for 1 jd and I believe that to be tight.
I have watched a medium sized pair of JDs defend a territory of about 250 gallons in their natural waters in Mexico, against any of cichlids.
You can see the pair chasing off others at about the 1 minute mark in the video below
Cristalino
In my own tanks, I go by the 10 gallons of tank, per 1 inch of the largest adult cichlid, calculation (for any, and all cichlids). To me, this means a pair with a 10" male, and 6" female may need a minimum of 100 gallons, but as Stanzzzz7 suggested, the bigger the better.
The space they inhabit in nature is immense, so cramming one or a pair in the equivalent space of a rut in the road (a 55 gal) is (to me) akin to cruel and unusual punishment.
Eden2
The Cenote below, is a much smaller space than the ones in the video above, and the JDs are a bit more torn up coping with the crowding.
027 zps4b102ffd
You can see the pair chasing off others at about the 1 minute mark in the video below
Cristalino
In my own tanks, I go by the 10 gallons of tank, per 1 inch of the largest adult cichlid, calculation (for any, and all cichlids). To me, this means a pair with a 10" male, and 6" female may need a minimum of 100 gallons, but as Stanzzzz7 suggested, the bigger the better.
The space they inhabit in nature is immense, so cramming one or a pair in the equivalent space of a rut in the road (a 55 gal) is (to me) akin to cruel and unusual punishment.
Eden2
The Cenote below, is a much smaller space than the ones in the video above, and the JDs are a bit more torn up coping with the crowding.
027 zps4b102ffd
