Jack Dempsey questions.

[mdt62]

Some of you may have read another thread I started in a different section of the forum but since I've decided to go the cichlid route Im starting on here instead.

My question is: Can I have two jack dempseys in the same tank? I've read they are aggressive towards each other but not always. If not (and if so as well) can anyone suggest other tank mates? I was also thinking green terrors. Maybe two JDS and two green terrors. I have a 75 gal tank sitting empty. Thanks.

[sheamurai]

I'm just new to JDs myself, but from what I know so far a 75 gal is only good for ONE JD, and barely big enough for a m/f pair. You may be able to do one JD and one Green Terror.

Hopefully Jenn or another more experienced SA keeper will chime in, but 75 gals isn't very big when you are talking about the bigger cichlids.

[Lab_Rat]

IF you have a mated pair and they don't beat each other up, the pair could work in a 75g. You'd be better off in a larger tank though. No way I'd put 2 JD and 2 GT in a 75g, that is likely to end up in disaster.

Are you set on having a JD? If not, a pair of nicaraguense would work well, then you could fill the rest of the tank out with dithers. Severums are another good option. You could do a lone JD or lone GT as well. The key with American cichlids is to make sure they have plenty of territory. You don't want to overstock them like African mbuna.

[mdt62]

One of each would be ok with me so long is it will work. I wouldnt mind doing a mated pair of JD's but I would require more info on how to go about that and I know NOTHING about breedind fish. I assume with either option other tank mates are out of the question? I know smaller fish will be eaten. Thanks for the info so far, Im new to this and trying to do the right thing AND get what I want lol.thumbs2:

[kitten3326]

I personally find it best, unless you want them spawning to get singles, in a 75g, I would put one JD, I personally love the Electric bluethumbs2: JD and one Green terror, my male is stunning and they have a great personalitly

[openbook]

The key to getting a mated pair is buying 6-8 of them or more when they are babies and let them form a pair naturally. Then you return the other JD's for store credit.

The nicuaragua cichlid and Severum are also pretty fish. Probably less shy than JD's. Keping dither fish like silver dollars helps JD's feel safe and they will swim around more.

The Electric Blue are nice but too expensive for me.

[Rollins4Miles]

I personally wouldn't recommend two JDs in a 75g if you can help it. The same goes with mixing in GTs. Can it be done? Yes, but a lot of that is going to be dependent on the aquascaping and the personal temperament of each fish. If you're stubborn and determined like me, then I would suggest a breeded pair in a 75g before two males in a 75g. One JD or GT with other fish will work well when done properly. I breed JDs so if you have any questions in regards to that just send me a PM.

I have to say that I also love the EBJD - but I have to agree that they are very expensive for what you get. I've gone through six and haven't had one make it past three inches!!!

[mdt62]

Sounds like great advice so far. So tank mates for one JD and one GT or am I done? Ive read more fish makes them less aggressive towards eachother. Dont want to crowd them either. Thank you all for timely replys.

[kitten3326]

Just some fast moving dither fish...Silver dollars are great for this and pretty to look at as well

[Lab_Rat]

I would choose either the JD or GT, not both, unless you don't mind losing one when they hit maturity.

[mdt62]

I would choose either the JD or GT, not both, unless you don't mind losing one when they hit maturity.

Other cichlids I could keep with one or the other? Ill tell ya all this "goes with this, doesnt go with that" stuff gets confusing and a bit irritating.

[kitten3326]

Some ppl have sucessfully kept some cichlids together, well others have not, I personally have kept terrors and dempseys in harmony without problems while other have had trouble. The trouble with cichlids is you could get a very docile JD and GT, or you may have a trouble maker...kinda like a pup, you don't know what your gonna get until they grow up. However I will say this GT are a less agressive then the JD. If you wanted to stay on the peaceful side then the GT is the way to go. This is only my opinion and someone else might have a different theory. I have kept cichlids for years and sometimes with them it comes down trial and error. But just keep getting input and reading threads, and from there you try your best. Don't get discouraged and keep asking questions that's how we all learn. This is a great site with lots of experienced fishkeepers. I currently have a green terror, firemouth, 2 severums and 2 blood parrots in a 90g and all are living together without any aggression. The key is also making sure they have enough room to grow.

[sheamurai]

Its much easier for beginning fish keepers to follow the basic "rules" of keeping fish.

Experienced fish keepers can get away with bending these rules, as they know what to watch for and can judge the temperament of fish before fatalities occur.

If you find the answers you get confusing when you ask about creating a questionable fish environment like you have with this thread, you might want to check out the "cookie cutter" type setups that are just about guaranteed to work and laid out for you. They are simple and excellent for beginners.

If you start being "irritated" at people's responses, you may find less people responding to your posts. People speak to the points asked that they believe in or know something about, so they may not always address your entire post.

[mdt62]

If you start being "irritated" at people's responses, you may find less people responding to your posts. People speak to the points asked that they believe in or know something about, so they may not always address your entire post.


My "irritation" isnt with people's responses simply, as I said its confusing. Its confusing because it isn't consistant. One person says one thing, one person says another. I understand as, someone else said, different people have different experiences with the same fish. They are animals after all. I'm a pretty black and white person and Im finding in fish keeping, there isnt always one. Im here to gather as much information as possible before I committ to filling up this tank. I thank people for helping me as much as possible, and just know that when I say Im irritated its not with anyone here directly.

[Lab_Rat]

There is no black and white with cichlids. They're all very much individuals. Since you are new to this, most recommendations will be conservative to put you in the position to have the best outcome possible. JD can be quite aggressive or they can be peaceful. Right now I have an 8"+ one who is as mellow as can be. I bet I could put her in a tank full of community fish and not have issue. I also have a 1.5" glass banging JD in another tank. That one is going to be a handful. GT also are hit or miss aggression wise. I listed a couple species in my first post that are less likely to be aggressive. Really, I don't think cichlids are good beginner fish, even though they're my favorite type of fish. Too many variables make them unpredictable.

[Rollins4Miles]

I say skip all of this confusion and just build yourself a reef! :19:

[fishguy66]

There's a couple of basic tenets for fishkeeping(for compatability), what I like to call fishkeeping 101:

1) ANY fish will eat ANYTHING it can fit in it's mouth. I've seen neons eat baby guppies. And fishes mouths are bigger than they appear. Choose tankmates CAREFULLY.

2) All fish have certain descriptive parameters, as far as aggression levels go. While there are always exceptions to the rule, these descriptions have been compiled from decades of research & experience. Get a book or go online & do your homework. Always err on the side of caution when mixing species, ESPECIALLY cichlids!!

3) Always get the biggest tank you can afford. People have a tendency to overstock aquariums(especially freshwater). When things go wrong in a small tank, they go wrong FAST!! A larger tank will be more forgiving of errors than a smaller tank, & you may have time to correct mistakes. Also, USUALLY aggression levels are somewhat lowered in a big tank.

With all this in mind, if you want to keep GT's & JD's, save yourself some heartache & only keep 1 of the species mentioned( & quite possibly only one lone specimen) in a 75gl. You may be able to get away w/ what you want for the short term, but in the long run what you want will most likely end in disaster(if you don't get a MUCH larger tank).:22:

[sheamurai]

One small tip in case you haven't noticed - if you are trying to choose between believing one post and another - have a look at the reputation points. That gives you an idea what other people have thought about that person's advice in the past.

[mdt62]

Thanks everyone for offering up advice. I will try to pick one of thses two fish in the coming weeks as I really like them both.

Someone mentioned silver dollars as a possible tank mate. Does anyone have others I could take a look at?

[Lab_Rat]

Larger barbs (tiger, rosy) and giant danios would work. You could do a few pictus cats (pims) for the lower realm.

[openbook]

My Green Terror used to be a middle tank dweller but now he lurks near the bottom mostly. My Jack has always been a bottom lurker mostly. I have Silver Dollars and they have helped with shyness and fighting issues tremendously. I also have a Nicuragua and he is the most outgoing of the 3. He's always begging for food and eats rapidly. The other 2 are slower to go after food. That's just my fish though. I got them all around the six inch range. My Jack was very timid at first and didn't appear to eat for at least the first month. He's looking very healthy now, but still on the shy side.

On the opposite end of the shy scale I have an Oscar and a Tilapia in 2 other tanks that will eat worms and shrimp from my hand. Both of those fish we've owned since they were babies.

[fishguy66]

Thanks everyone for offering up advice. I will try to pick one of thses two fish in the coming weeks as I really like them both.

Someone mentioned silver dollars as a possible tank mate. Does anyone have others I could take a look at?

I have always kept clown loaches & plecos w/ my cichlids. The cichlids learn REAL fast not to mess w/ the clown loaches, as they have sub-opercular spines that pop out like switch blades, & one or two jabs w/ these & the cichlids ususally give them a wide berth. I have 4 in my 180 gl. w/ my managuense & JD's, & they are doing just fine. The plecos armor & less than sunny disposition usually gives them some bully-proofing.(They also do a spectacular job of cleaning the bottom) Also, tinfoil barbs & bala sharks are good choices, given that they are fast swimmers & their large size.

[mdt62]

This is good stuff and I thank you. Is it relivent I intend to get all these fish as young as possible? Might that help everyone get along? Being able to keep two of either fish (JD/GT) would still be my primary goal but i fully understand if thats not possible. Knowing I can keep other fish with at JD or a GT makes me feel better. I worried the tank would look very empty with just one fish..

[fishguy66]

This is good stuff and I thank you. Is it relivent I intend to get all these fish as young as possible? Might that help everyone get along? Being able to keep two of either fish (JD/GT) would still be my primary goal but fully understand if thats not possible. Knowing I can keep other fish with at JD or a GT makes me feel better. I worried the tank would look very empty with just one fish..

Just a word of caution............make sure you get them all at the same time(& as close as in size as possible), & try to grow them up together. Later additions in a cichlid tank(especially central & south americans) might be viewed as a potential food item or just outright killed.

[Lab_Rat]

Agree. Add the cichlid last.

[krystalsohun]

Personally I say stick with a green terror tank. You could put the dither fish and such still but stay away from the JD. Not that they are bad fish but if you get the wrong one you may end up with only one fish in that 75 gallon. I have a JD. She started at 1 inch with a tiger oscar and a gt. After two weeks the Oscar had been killed by the JD. After three weeks she shreaded the GT. She is now by herself in a 100 gallon tank. I have tried many things like plecos and she killed them. Even a snail wasnt allowed lol She is a great fish, but if I knew what I was gonna go through with her before I bought her, I wouldve left her at the fish store :hmm3grin2orange: Its much safer with just a green terror and some dither fish.

[fishguy66]

Personally I say stick with a green terror tank. You could put the dither fish and such still but stay away from the JD. Not that they are bad fish but if you get the wrong one you may end up with only one fish in that 75 gallon. I have a JD. She started at 1 inch with a tiger oscar and a gt. After two weeks the Oscar had been killed by the JD. After three weeks she shreaded the GT. She is now by herself in a 100 gallon tank. I have tried many things like plecos and she killed them. Even a snail wasnt allowed lol She is a great fish, but if I knew what I was gonna go through with her before I bought her, I wouldve left her at the fish store :hmm3grin2orange: Its much safer with just a green terror and some dither fish.


Just a word of caution............make sure you get them all at the same time(& as close as in size as possible), & try to grow them up together. Later additions in a cichlid tank(especially central & south americans) might be viewed as a potential food item or just outright killed.

Which is why I gave the above advice. Although anything can happen, generally if you add tankmates all at the same time, they will get along. I have done so for quite a while, & as a matter of fact I have 2 plecos, 4 clown loaches, & a red-tailed black shark in a 180gl w/ 2 JD's & 2 managuense that are easily capable of killing the loaches, etc. They all get along just fine(although there are occasional squabbles, mostly among the cichlids), & have been in that tank for about a year. (Just make sure that if you add fish to a "big" cichlid tank, you add fish that can defend themselves, such as the clown loach) If you add other fish to a tank that already has an established territorial/aggressive cichlid(s), chances are they will be viewed as a intruder to it's territory or viewed as a food item.