Jack Dempsey

[ox5477]

I have two jack dempsey's and I think they are both males, but they are still very young and small (about 1" long). I was wondering if anyone knew about what age the major features that separate males and females begin to come into fruition.

Also, I'm confused as to what their color changes mean still. I have had them for close to 2 monthes now and the one use to be almost black all the time, while the other was almost completely an off-white. Now they are both a creamy brown base and you can see their strips and spots. I have heard that they turn black when angry or feel crowded and that they turn light when they are scared or sick. Are these attritbutes correct?

If so then the fact that they are still lighter than most pictures you see of Dempsey's because they are uncomfortable in my tank or still getting adjusted? I don't think they are unhealthy or uncomfortable because they swim around and both chase eachother and are eager to eat everytime I walk even remotely near the tank, always greeting me at the glass.

Or maybe is it that they feel threatened by the two 3.5" Bala's I have in the tank with them? But the Bala's just keep to themselves almost exclusively in the top to topleft of the tank while the Dempsey's seem to like to hover all over, but mainly in the dense plants at the right.

Or possibly is it because they are still juveniles? I don't think I've seen any pictures of juveniles, only adults or small hatchlings.

I understand pictures would help all these questions and I will post pictures tonight when I get home to maybe help answer any of these questions. Thanks.

 

[SamUK]

cant help you with the JDs but im afraid to say your tank is way overstocked.

30G - 2 x 1" Jack Demspeys; 2 x 3-3.5" Tri-Colors; 1 x 5" Common Pleco (I think I am going to move one Dempsey to his own 20G to play in because he is becoming very aggressive and nipping at eveybody in the tank)

JDs get to 9" and need 45 gallons for a single fish.

the pleco also reaches 2ft in length and needs a 80 gallon tank minimum.

 

[ox5477]

ya, thats why they are only 1" right now. when they get bigger they will be moved

 

[EliteFishy]

I think your jack dampsey is stressed from the lack of space. I would move them into a bigger tank as soon as possible. I had two JDs in a 29 gallon when I was just a fish newbie. One JD killed the other one and started attacking my other fishes. He started attacking when he was about 1.5inches. JDs get VERY territorial. Now he is about 4inches in a 55 gallon with a 2.5in oscar and a 9in pleco.

 

[Boids-n-more]

When the JD was mostly black he felt dominent. Did you recently add the bala's? If so it might have knocked him down a notch whitch made the other jd challange for tank king.

 

[vancouver]

The thing is.. they wont get bigger.... theres no room for them to grow so they wont..

I've overstocked tanks in the past, and believe me.. the fish stop growing sooner then you'd imagine. It's very bad for their health.

 

[ox5477]

When the JD was mostly black he felt dominent. Did you recently add the bala's? If so it might have knocked him down a notch whitch made the other jd challange for tank king.

I've had the bala's for the whole two monthes I've had the tank. So the dempsey's and the bala's have been together since I've had them. I think you guys are right though, cause he is nipping any chance he gets at all three other fish especially at feeding time. He is surely just stressed and I found a good deal on a 55G that im gonna put them in, or maybe just the dominant one and my pleco. If you guys have an idea of whats better I'm up for suggestions.



Also, If someone could tell me about the sexing question that was in the original post of this thread I would appreciate it. As I promised, here are some pics....Fishes Thanks All!

He is surely just stressed and I found a good deal on a 55G that im gonna put them in, or maybe just the dominant one and my pleco. If you guys have an idea of whats better I'm up for suggestions.

To clarify this, the two plans I have are:

• Put the two Dempsey's in the 55G while leaving the two Bala's and Pleco in the 30G
• Take the aggressive Dempsey and the pleco and put them in the 55G while the other Dempsey and the two Bala's stay in the 30G

 

[Boids-n-more]

actually put them all in the 55 when you get it set up. As fas as sexing the jacks i've never bred them so i couldn't tell you . i always keep them as singles , so its never donned on me to learn to sex them.

 

[vancouver]

Balas grow too big for a 30g.. a 6x2x2 is widely talked about as the minimum tank size..

 

[jayjay]

IMO a 6'x2'x2' is too small for a shoal of 6+ 14" fish. To keep bala's i'd say an 8'x3' tank.

 

[vancouver]

Yea I was just sort of getting at the point that their tank is waay too small