Jack Dempsey Early pairing?

[Gwuak]

How early can you notice Jack Dempsey's pairing off? Mine are very small right now and they will not separate.
Also, they sometimes dance with each other it looks like while staring at each other. It's insane and fun to watch.

One of them changes colors all the time to a darker color and the other does not. I am not sure what is going on.

[sheamurai]

Mine paired quite young and they were only about 2.5 - 3" long at the time. Eggs didn't come til they were a bit over 3" tho.
The darker, colour changing one will be your female.
You'll want to start watching for acts of aggression now, territory may start to become an issue, depending on the size of your tank and what other fish are in there.
My one female got quite brutal, and she was in a 4' tank.

[Gwuak]

Mine paired quite young and they were only about 2.5 - 3" long at the time. Eggs didn't come til they were a bit over 3" tho.
The darker, colour changing one will be your female.
You'll want to start watching for acts of aggression now, territory may start to become an issue, depending on the size of your tank and what other fish are in there.
My one female got quite brutal, and she was in a 4' tank.

I think I'm a bit screwed if they start to breed. There is a green terror in there with them. o.O

[mizzoutank]

and a yellow lab cichlid...

if they start to even think about pairing up to spawn, they will kill everything in that tank. fish get protective when the spawn, and you already have overly aggressive fish in a small tank.

[Gwuak]

and a yellow lab cichlid...

if they start to even think about pairing up to spawn, they will kill everything in that tank. fish get protective when the spawn, and you already have overly aggressive fish in a small tank.

Getting rid of the yellow lab cichlid, I am not parting with the JD's + Green terror though. Getting a bigger tank

(in time)

[Sandz]

Im sorry to hear that... I hope they dont spawn for everyones sake.

[eltylT]

mine paired up when they were very young too , and they will wreak havoc on others if they do spawn so keep your eyes wide and good luck.