Immediate help, please

**gm72** · 06-20-2010, 05:11 PM

My wife is bringing home a 6" Jack Dempsey. Rescued from a 30 gallon tank, long story. I am planning on putting him in my 220. Current population:
1 Leoporinus, 9"
2 Oscars, both about 3"
2 Common plecos, 12" and 10" or so.
2 Upside-down catfish, each about 9" or so.
3 Gold tinfoil barbs, each about 8" or so.

Any predictions for problems? I do have other tanks available, including a 55 that I can set up again without problem.

Thanks in advance for the help.

**little hawaii** · 06-20-2010, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by gm72

My wife is bringing home a 6" Jack Dempsey. Rescued from a 30 gallon tank, long story. I am planning on putting him in my 220. Current population:
1 Leoporinus, 9"
2 Oscars, both about 3"
2 Common plecos, 12" and 10" or so.
2 Upside-down catfish, each about 9" or so.
3 Gold tinfoil barbs, each about 8" or so.

Any predictions for problems? I do have other tanks available, including a 55 that I can set up again without problem.

Thanks in advance for the help.

I predict dead oscars, they are not big enough YET. Put lots of hidyholes in and rearrange whole tank.

**gm72** · 06-20-2010, 05:19 PM

There is an enormous amount of driftwood, Mopani, in the tank. There are a ton of "caves" in there.

**Lab_Rat** · 06-20-2010, 05:24 PM

Have a backup plan ready in case things go south quickly. The oscars are mellow cichlids and likely to get the crap beaten out of them by the JD. The good part of your situation is you're introducing the JD into the O's established territory, so maybe that will lessen his aggression. It may be fine, just depends on the JD's personality.

One thing I like to do when introducing a new cichlid into an established tank is to feed them immediately. Gets everyone distracted, at least for a little while, instead of things immediately coming to blows.

**Honey Badger 1** · 06-20-2010, 05:28 PM

do you know in what conditions the JD was kept, other than it was kept in a 30g. i think i would qt it for a few weeks before introducing it into my tank.

**ILuvMyGoldBarb** · 06-20-2010, 05:50 PM

I agree. JD's are very unpredictable fish. Some specimens will do just fine in a "social" setting while others are a devil to deal with. You could very well end up with dead oscars if that fish doesn't like them. The other odd thing you will find is that they may do just fine for the first few days, even week or 2, but they can turn quite suddenly and create absolute chaos. As mentioned, you will definitely want a backup plan. The only fish I could see giving the JD a problem is the Leoporinus, those buggers can get nasty.

**gm72** · 06-20-2010, 05:58 PM

Thanks a lot for all of the help. I am, just by way of a reminder, equipped to place the JD in an isolation tank of 55 gallons. I really appreciate the input for this post. I don't usually adopt fish like this but the situation necessitated the condition.

**Northernguy** · 06-20-2010, 05:58 PM

I think your making a mistake by adding that fish to your tank,especially if you have a peaceful community now.
The past history of the fish would be a deciding factor.
Was it in the 30gal because it beat up fish in a larger tank?
I hope you have another tank if it doesn't work.

If it it does work out it would be a real nice addition.Lots of color!Good luck!
A juvie would be easier.

**gm72** · 06-20-2010, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by Northernguy

I think your making a mistake by adding that fish to your tank,especially if you have a peaceful community now.
The past history of the fish would be a deciding factor.
Was it in the 30gal because it beat up fish in a larger tank?
I hope you have another tank if it doesn't work.

Again, I have up to a 55 gallon tank in which to house the fish if things go sour.