EBJD - signs I should look for?

[sheamurai]

My EBJD is just starting to get to the age now that supposedly disaster strikes. He's a touch over 3" and eating well and looking good. Ok, he's getting to the age where I'm starting to worry about disaster striking, lol. I imagine that he has another 1/2 inch to inch to go.

The danger zone seems to be around the 4" mark, at which the majority of EBJDs don't seem to make it to 5".

What are the signs and symptoms? Do they lose their appetite, become listless, eat but get emaciated anyway - what should I look for so at least I have some warning that he's not going to make it?

Any tips appreciated...
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hmm, sorry about the pic...the original is brighter and sharper, not sure why it downgraded when uploaded...

[Lab_Rat]

Mine would start to get anorexic and then a couple of weeks later they'd crap out. They didn't refuse food but didn't eat with their usual gusto. I didn't see signs of parasites like stringy poo, but with the last one when he started going anorexic I tried treating him for parasites but it didn't make a difference. Good luck with your guy, I hope you have better luck than I did.

[riot]

Mine would start to get anorexic and then a couple of weeks later they'd crap out. They didn't refuse food but didn't eat with their usual gusto. I didn't see signs of parasites like stringy poo, but with the last one when he started going anorexic I tried treating him for parasites but it didn't make a difference. Good luck with your guy, I hope you have better luck than I did.

I had great luck with mine. He was about 7" when I had to give him away to someone with a larger tank. He was by far my favorite fish I've ever owned.

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[Lady Hobbs]

I didn't know these fish had a problem with longevity. Never heard that before.

I wonder if worming them before they get ill would make a difference?

[sheamurai]

Thanks Labby. Nice to know what to look for.

@Lady Hobbs - The electric blue jacks seem to have a problem - they are inbred to get the blue hybrid variation and as a result, aren't very hardy. Evidently something goes wrong with their digestive system at a certain size/age and they die shortly after. Nothing to do with illness or parasites. Riots nice 7" JD above isn't an electric blue - his looks like my regular Jack Dempsey. In any event, all my fish get a dose of prazipro when I get them, so hopefully that avenue is covered anyway!

[riot]

Thanks Labby. Nice to know what to look for.

@Lady Hobbs - The electric blue jacks seem to have a problem - they are inbred to get the blue hybrid variation and as a result, aren't very hardy. Evidently something goes wrong with their digestive system at a certain size/age and they die shortly after. Nothing to do with illness or parasites. Riots nice 7" JD above isn't an electric blue - his looks like my regular Jack Dempsey. In any event, all my fish get a dose of prazipro when I get them, so hopefully that avenue is covered anyway!


Oh ok. Only the electric blues. No wonder mine was so healthy. :hmm3grin2orange:

[Lady Hobbs]

How interesting. Luv to hear new things like that I never knew but don't luv to hear this lovely fish have this problem. You'd think with that problem they'd sell for $1. LOL

[Lab_Rat]

Regular JD are tough as nails and don't have the problem that the EBJDs do. And EBJD are not hybrids, they are very linebred/inbred to get that coloration, but they are all JD. No other species was crossed in for the coloration.

[sheamurai]

Wee update. Still have this fish, he's growing slowly but still growing at least. Still examining him often to see if he's going to make it or not.

Today I thought, "oh-oh, here he goes, the beginning of the end."
He was stashed in his cave, and I saw in silhouette that his mouth was all bulgy. I thought he had some weird swelling.

Finally he came out and I was able to look down his gullet - it was bulgy, all right. With one of my otos. He couldn't get it down so its stuck there still, the edge of the tail just outside his mouth, and his face is all extended with this poor thing crammed in there.

First thought was "whewf! He's finally starting to act JD-ish."
Second thought was, "that little turd ate my oto!"

Ya think maybe I should move the remaining otos outta there? Yeah, I think just maybe eh...