January 21, 2010
Q&A About Jack Dempsey Cichlid Fish
WHAT TO FEED YOUR JACK DEMPSEY CICHLIDS —
• What is the best conditioning food to encourage my JDs to spawn?
• What should I be feeding my Jack Dempsey Cichlids for good health?
PARENTING EGGS AND NEWBORNS —
• My Jack Dempsey cichlids laid eggs. What do I do now?
• Will Jack Dempsey parents eat their young?
• Should I leave the JD parents with the babies and for how long?
• The Jack Dempsey eggs have hatched. How and What do I feed them?
LANDSCAPING YOUR JACK DEMPSEY AQUARIUM —
• Should I use live plants in my Jack Dempsey fish tank?
GENERAL HEALTH AND APPEARANCE OF MY JACK DEMPSEY —
• Why is my Jack Dempsey cichlid so pale and colorless?
how long does a jack dempsey fish live (5)can two jack dempseys live together (4)how long do jack dempsey fish live (3)jack dempsey turning red (3)how long do jack dempseys live (3)can my jack dempsey bite me (3)white jack dempsey fish (2)how to tell male and female jack dempseys apart (2)white pimples on jack dempsey fish (2)jack dempsey going crazy (2)kissing jack dempseys (2)why dosent my jack dempsey swim alot (2)why is my jack dempsey cichlid kissing (2)jack dempsey white spot on tail (2)shy jack dempsey fish (1)pictures of deformed jack dempsey fish (1)one white eye in jack dempsey cichlid (1)my jack demsey comes out from hiding and acts like it is going crazy why (1)my jack dempsey acts strange after eating (1)moving newborn jack dempsey (1)
Written by: Ken
Filed Under:
Ladonna
February 1, 2010 at 1:53 am
Is the Jack Dempsey dangerous? Would it ever go crazy like and bang the tank? Please help!
jackarthur46
February 2, 2010 at 3:09 am
All fish can, from time to time, take a hissy fit and start banging into things. This doesn’t usually happen unless the fish is startled, extremely stressed or ill. Large fish can break heaters and knock over your scenery but the aquarium glass is not in any danger.
Necrophina
February 11, 2010 at 4:50 am
I have 2 fish that I have had for a few years now… and I dawned on me the other day after leaving the pet shop I have no idea what kinds they are. The big one of the 2 is really pissy and always pushing the smaller one around, I’m wondering if he’s a JD….. but what are the specific markings to tell? What do I look for he looks pretty freaking close! I think he is from comparing him to pix but what can I look for to be sure?
ANY help would ROCK!
clayton
March 18, 2010 at 8:02 pm
my jacks they look healthy they were active but all of a sudden they feel like hiding. they show no symptoms what so ever the eat they poop no discoloration at all is this normal. oh yeah there all 6 month old females.
jackarthur46
May 10, 2010 at 4:34 am
Hi Clayton. I find that JDs will become very quiet when the water conditions aren’t very good. They don’t get sick nor do they stop eating but they don’t seem to be interested in moving around much. Check out water quality and PH. Ph should be at least 6.8 up to 7.6. These seem to be ideal for JDs. Good luck.
pat levy
April 20, 2010 at 6:59 am
how long do jacks live? he is 3 years old and about 10” long. how much longer will he live?-
jackarthur46
May 10, 2010 at 4:30 am
Probably another 5 to 7 years if well taken care of Pat.
Thep
June 18, 2010 at 7:18 am
Hi,
Can I put Oscar fish with my 2 Jack Dempsy Cichlids? Thanks.
skyler
December 29, 2010 at 2:29 am
yes you can put a ascar in there with the jack dempseys they are of similarish size and they have the same temperment hope this helps you out:)
Tara Storm
June 21, 2010 at 8:58 pm
i am new cichlids and larger aquauims so im so confused. i researched Jacks for about six months before finally deciding they are what i wanted, i did a fishless cycle with my tank for a week before getting my Jacks and 2 days ago i went and bought 2 jacks from petsmart. one of them is right at 4 inches and the other is maybe a 1/4 inch shorter, the larger one keeps attacking the other and the smaller one is black and has white stripes on it. i am worried about it. they are in a 29 gal tank. the small one stays hidding in the corner, and is now has no tail, what should i do?
Ryan
July 1, 2010 at 6:59 am
Hi (Jack, I presume?),
I got lucky enough to buy two Jack Dempseys that have since paired up. Unfortunately, I’ve got an additional four young JD’s (all almost an inch and a half). The pair are almost 5 inches each. They also share the tank with a 12-inch Pleco (whom they never bother). Will they lay eggs with the other fish present in the tank or do they need to be removed? It is a 75 gallon tank so there is quite a bit of room (for now) since the other JD’s are very young but I’m assuming they will need to be removed at some point?
Thanks a bunch,
Ryan
amy
July 11, 2010 at 8:45 am
I am thinking of starting a jack dempsey only tank and am worried that when the fish gets big it might bite me when doing tank maitenance. Do they bite people?
sally
August 7, 2010 at 9:41 am
What does it mean when a Jack Dempsey gets white spots on their eyes and what can I do to treat them?
clint
August 18, 2010 at 2:23 am
Hello, I have 8 JD babies who are now 8-9 months old. 3 males and 5 females. The two larger males (who are identical, color, shape) started beating up the third smaller male, you know chasing, chewing on fins biting him, basically trying to kill him. I have moved him to another tank with one of the females to keep him company. Is this normal behavior. The two larger males are like Mutt and Jeff. Attached at the hip. They do strange things, like one will swim upside down above the other. how long before they turn on each other?
Debbie
August 26, 2010 at 3:51 am
Is it possible for a jack dempsy and a bumble bee cichlid to spawn?
Roy
September 12, 2010 at 3:15 am
How can you tell jack Dempsey females apart from the males
T
October 2, 2010 at 3:49 pm
My jack Dempsey has a bubble underneath it’s bottom is that an egg trying to come out or is something wrong with it
ken p
November 26, 2010 at 10:43 pm
How do i know if my JD is male or female ???
When u find out please let me know...
July 12, 2012 at 12:07 am
Thatnk u..
JML
December 14, 2010 at 6:27 pm
My male has been moving gravel and has created a little crater in the tank. It isn’t in one of the areas that my Dempseys usually stay in and I was wondering what he’s up to.
jackarthur46
December 14, 2010 at 10:39 pm
James,
Your JD probably feels that this new location can be better guarded and protected for the fry. One never knows for sure what a Jack Dempsey is up to. Good luck
Jack Lamountain / The World Of Jack Dempsey Cichlids
Chad
December 21, 2010 at 5:29 pm
What would be the best lighting profile for JD’s, in kelvin. Also, I can help with the live plant issue. If you can get some Java Firn to establish on some drift wood in another tank, it can be place in any cichlid tank without causing much headache. Works great in mine.
skyler
December 29, 2010 at 2:34 am
i have two jack dempseys and i was wondering how do you get one too stop beating on the other one? the larger one just likes to beat the crap out of the smaller one they are jaw locking tail beating and just dont stop hurting each other i also have a 4 inch convict that thinks that he has to get in the middle of things and chases them both around but the smallest jack just hides is there anything that i can do or not please help i am in need of it,
skyler
December 31, 2010 at 9:36 pm
alright i got rid of one of the fish and now i have an oscar in there with the JD i was wondering if anyone had any good advise.
on keeping the two speicies together.
jw
February 14, 2011 at 2:56 am
How do i sex my Jack dempseys?
oscar fish
February 21, 2011 at 2:50 am
they should work if the oscar is not smaller than the other fish just remember all these fish together need a 120 gallon tank min
John Antonis
March 4, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Jack, I left my # 603 728 8802 on your site. Please give me a call so we can talk and I won’t have to use your website, Thanks, Johnney Antonis
cam
March 27, 2011 at 10:55 pm
Why does my jd have white dots all over him
chris
May 16, 2011 at 11:52 pm
This sounds like early stages of ich Cam. Any signs of brushing against rocks,gravel etc.? If so i would keep an eye out for anything different such as their feeding and speed in which thing swim (fast almost startled acting is also another sign). I am no expert, but i would recommend reading up a bit more on this. Try googling “white dots on my cichlids” or “signs of ich”. Good luck!
Mike
May 1, 2011 at 6:53 am
Hi, I have a 9″ male Jack. He is pitch black based, and covered in the metallic spots with red tipped fins. An unusual thing us his tail fin. It is split and kinda rounded off. Ive had him for about a year now and I was wondering if his tail changes his value at all. Please let me know! thank!
-Mike
Hamish
August 14, 2011 at 8:42 am
It might be a deformation and it will change his value but not by much.
Hamish
August 14, 2011 at 8:40 am
I have a young 2 inch jack in a 20 gallon tank and in a month i will move him to a 55 gallon are their any other large american cichlids i can keep with im
Joshua
August 26, 2011 at 6:08 pm
I don’t think it is the best idea to put any other bigger cichilds in a 55 with your JD. Unless you try to put a girlfriend/boyfriend in their with him and try to have a pair. Otherwise I would keep the solo dempsey and add a handful of dithers like 7 giant zebra danio, or tiger barbs. You could maybe get by with 2 male convicts in with him, but I wouldn’t try anything bigger. Good luck!
Joshua
August 26, 2011 at 6:05 pm
I know that the electric blue JD is kind of a gem of a fish in the trade. I however, am interested in another variation hybrid of the JD. I have heard these referred to as galaxy dempseys, or in other words a dempsey x texas cross. It is such a gorgeous fish. I know that hybrids are kind of a hot topic in the cichlid hobby and i hear both sides of the argument but this particular cross is one that I would definitely like to try and bread some time. Does anyone have any tips or info on this hybrid?
Here are a couple links to the fish I am basing this comment on. Thanks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtgs3QDab0k
http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Cichlid,%20Texas%20Spawning%20II.htm
faith
September 5, 2011 at 8:28 am
my dad bought me to jakc at the pet store ther about a inch long and i have them in a 5 gallon tank for right now trying to get a big tank but dont have the money but i on fish is taking bit out of the other fish is there any thing i can do to make him stop they waz fine in the tank at the pet store and it waz the same size tank that i have them in now
john
September 27, 2011 at 6:38 pm
My pair of JDs have bread a number of times. Recently they just took a 2-3 month hiatus. They bread just recently and the fry are a week and a half old. Everything was going well as normal with them until two days ago. They don’t seem to b watching the fry very close, are defiantly not moving them around to different spots in the tank. Now they are facing off locking jaws chasing each other around and swimming side to side and turning on their side like they might when they are about to breed. Also it seems that most of this is being initiated by the female. This is new behavior for them while they have especially very small fry in the tank. I am curious why they are doing this at this point in the fry’s life and not taking care of the fry? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
frank
December 16, 2011 at 4:43 am
i just bought a pair of jack dempsey’s that are about 2&1/2inches long they are both the same size they don’t fight they have been swing together for the past week but now one of them keeps swimming into a hole the goes inside a piece of fake driftwood … does anyone know why it would do this and could it be trying to lay eggs ? thank you in advance for your time and help
Shannon
January 17, 2012 at 2:03 am
l have a jack dempsey he about 3 years or age. Now my question is l have a cichlid he kind golden yellow in colour but when he swim over to the jack. The jack will stand on his tail like his in a trance and let the other fish pick at him why it a strange thing to see ?
Anthony
January 30, 2012 at 5:06 am
My Jack Dempsey cichlid is starting to act weird. I recently found him flopping on the ground after jumping out of the tank. He is becoming very spastic too. Anytime I approach the tank my JD will swim around super fast and splash at the surface and send gravel flying everywhere. He has been in this tank for about a year now with two convict cichlids and a pleco. I changed the gravel from dark to light about 8 months ago. He eats fine and doesn’t bully the other fisht that much. The aquarium is well maintained too. I am just trying to figure out why he might be acting this way and what I can do to fix it? Thanks.
T
March 12, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Hello,
I have a JD pair that were given to me two years ago. They are big. The male is about 10 inches and the female about 9 inches. I also have a pleco that’s about a foot long. All are healthy and active. I am looking to sell or trade these fish, but I am unsure of how much to ask for them. Please advise.
Much thanks
T ; )
brandon
March 18, 2012 at 2:54 am
hey guys. i was just wondering if anyone knew if i could keep an electric blue jack dempsey with just a regular jack dempsey. i have heard the electric blues are less agressive. any help would be greatly apprecivted
Nic Kuddles
March 20, 2012 at 1:13 am
Hello,
I have a 55 gallon with a pair of JD’s only here is the twist. The mother is a 5 inch blonde Jack Dempsey and the dad is a 6.5 inch Electric Blue Jack Dempsey. They laid eggs once but when they hatched stress from other fish caused them and others to eat em. I expect them to lay eggs in the next few days. Has anyone ever successfully cross bred these? Lemme know please.
Thanks!!1
kelli
April 6, 2012 at 5:26 am
i have 2 jack dempseys m&f they had babies and only 5 survived the 5 are only like 2weeks old and the momma and dadda already laid more eggs my question is will the older baby fish eat the lil babies
jackarthur46
April 6, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Hi Kelli. It’s more likely that the parents will eat the older fry. They will see them as threats to the new batch of babies. I would remove the older babies if you wish them to survive. Having the adults laying eggs only 2 – 3 weeks after is very unusual. Good luck Kelli.
Jack Lamountain / The World Of Jack Dempsey Cichlids
Gg
May 1, 2012 at 2:50 am
Hi I just got a pair of jack Dempsey 3-4″ I have check well temperature and ph but both of my JD’s are been hidding in separate caves why is this? Also they are not eating the food I give them are they picky when choosing food?also the only way the male comes out is when he wants to hit the female or a convict is this normal ? What should I do about all this ? Also they are been acting shy with other convicts and plecos is this because they are knew in the tank? How long will it take for them to adapt to the environment ? I just got them last week ?
G&D
June 19, 2012 at 7:54 am
HI, we have a mated pair – moved them to a separate tank from our other fish because when they would lay eggs they got too aggressive with the other fish. The fry are now about 2 months old, all was going well – protective parents, but not eating the fry or anything. All of a sudden today the male started chasing the female and being very aggressive. She is badly beat up so we moved him out and she doesn’t look good. Any reason why this would happen? Should we keep him out of the tank?
Thanks
jackarthur46
June 19, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Hi… there are many reasons why a male will become aggressive so you must move him out of the fry tank and back into the community tank. THe female can take care of the fry on her own. Good luck
Jack Lamountain / The World of Jack Dempsey Cichlids.
nikki
August 7, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Hi I just bought 2 electric blue jack dempsey fry , they are about 1/4 in in size. My question is about what age/ size will they start to color? Currently they are colorless other than a few black stripes.