So here is the dilemma I am facing for today. As many (or few) of you may know, I am working on breeding Electric Blue Jack Dempseys. I have grown out my original sire from a small little fry guy and he has mated with a normal Jack Dempsey female to produce blue gene carrier fry. From those fry I have saved three females and one male (only because he and one of the females have mated) to breed back to another Electric Blue Jack Dempsey. All of this is good. Here is my issue. Since I started this project, I have lost my second EBJD male that would have been the money maker male that would be bred back to the gene carrier females to produce blue fry. He died at the hands of some normal JDs overnight. They must have ganged up on him over one night because I was watching him closely for almost 4 months before this happened. I then moved recently to another state. All of these guys made the move and I have two new EBJD males growing out in a 75 gallon tank all to themselves. Below are pictures of both little guys. They seem to be growing into themselves and I am noticing that one of the guys has an issue where his eyes are not outside of his skull. They are sunken in a bit. He eats well and sees well and doesn't seem bothered by it. The other is much more skinny in the body and his head is elongated. His eyes almost seem to bulge. Maybe it's just an awkward phase of growth. Maybe these will be permanent. Thoughts?
The other option I have is to allow the blue gene carrier fry to breed as they have been laying eggs and have had successful hatches. This would produce at least some EBJD fry, and maybe I can find and grow out my own suitable male to breed back with the other carrier fry. Thoughts? I have also attached a photo of the blue gene carrier male. He is much better formed.
See photos below:
Sunken Eye Male (aka Royal):
Skinny Male (aka Dodger):
Blue Gene Carrier Male:
Little Male that was lost:
Original Sire (aka Big Blue):
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I decide what to do.
Thanks!
The other option I have is to allow the blue gene carrier fry to breed as they have been laying eggs and have had successful hatches. This would produce at least some EBJD fry, and maybe I can find and grow out my own suitable male to breed back with the other carrier fry. Thoughts? I have also attached a photo of the blue gene carrier male. He is much better formed.
See photos below:
Sunken Eye Male (aka Royal):
Skinny Male (aka Dodger):
Blue Gene Carrier Male:
Little Male that was lost:
Original Sire (aka Big Blue):
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I decide what to do.
Thanks!
