What do jack dempseys eat

A mated pair will viciously attack all of your other fish in the tank, so make sure to move them to the breeding tank as soon as they have paired off. Both parents take care of the eggs and the larvae, and will attack anyone who disturbs them.

Unfortunately, this includes your fingers when you are trying to feed them! For the most part, the larvae and the fry will be fed by the parents. However, you still need to provide them with the right foods to eat. Infusoria, larval brine shrimp, and commercial fry food can be used to feed the fry. You can move the parents back to the main tank once the fry reach the juvenile stage. Your juveniles will reach full maturity after about 6 months. Back then they were known by their scientific name Rocio octofasciata however around 20 years later they were nicknamed Jack Dempsey Fish.

Throughout the 20th century this fish and other Cichlid species were used in freshwater fish studies. Scientists were particularly interested in their territorial behavior and parental abilities. Because of their success in the aquarium hobby they have established wild populations in Thailand, Australia, Russia, and three US states.

In the wild this fish lives in wetland pools and slow moving channels with only a moderate current. Outside of their natural range they live in irrigation ditches and other man made bodies of water, especially those that are heated by an artificial heat source. You will need at least an 80 gallon aquarium so your Jack can swim around without bumping into anything, including other fish.

The pH should be between 6. As a euryhaline species , they can tolerate higher salinities. A high power external or canister filter is the best kind for this aquarium. Just make sure to keep the flow low to moderate.

You must decorate the tank with plenty of hidey holes and crevices for your fish to hide out in. Flower pots filled with gravel will make your fish feel right at home. You can also scatter boulders, driftwood, and bogwood around the tank to provide a little bit of extra shelter. You can use Marimo Moss Balls. Just remember, do not add your Jack Dempsey to the tank until it is cycled. An adult Jack Dempsey needs at least an 80 gallon aquarium. For each additional Jack Dempsey in the tank you should add 20 gallons.

Because they are known for bullying other fish, their tank mates must be able to fight back when needed. In the wild they live with many different species of Tetras and Killifish, as well as the Mayan Cichlid and some South American Cichlids.

Within your aquarium their best tank mates are medium to large sized South American Cichlids. Freshwater Angelfish are safe as well. They are just peaceful enough to avoid causing trouble but still fierce enough to fight back.

You should avoid keeping peaceful fish of any size with a boisterous Jack. Any small fish such as Tetras, Bristlenose Plecos, and Rasboras should also be avoided for the same reason. Finally, avoid any African Cichlid. African Cichlids may carry diseases and parasites that can spread to a Cichlid from another region.

You can keep a few Jack Dempseys together so long as the group is mostly female. One male for every 3 or 4 females is a good rule to follow. Keeping too many territorial Cichlids together can turn your aquarium into a boxing arena.

It is vital to make sure that each Cichlid has enough space 20 gallons each to go along without disturbing the others. However they can be a good pick for experienced fish keepers who are looking to keep a member of the Cichlidae family for the first time.

Paleness, dullness, or other forms of discoloration are all signs that something is wrong. It is essential that you create a very clean substrate and maintain good hygiene within the tank. Plus items such as caves, flower pots, etc. Jack Dempsey fish are typically more hostile during spawning, and upon being ready to spawn, the pair pick out a choice substrate on which mating will take place.

The female eventually moves to lay the egg around a corner or in a hiding spot; the male follows after her to fertilize the eggs. The Jack Dempsey fish are quite productive as they are capable of laying up to — in a single breeding season. One commendable characteristic of Jack Dempseys is their parental instinct which is quite impressive — both parents have a role to play in ensuring the safety of the Offspring; the female gets to watch over the brood while the male takes charge of territorial defense.

And, it is even more interesting to note that the female could become infuriated [and fight] with the male if he fails to do his job dedicatedly. However, you may need to come in upon noticing any fight in the breeding tank. In such a scenario, all you need to do is withdraw the male from the breeding tank. Failure to do so could result in them fighting to the death, or a situation whereby they end up consuming the eggs. The fertilized egg should be hatched in about 3 — 6 days, but the fry will not be able to eat until they are nearly 8 — 10 days old.

Even when they start eating, they will not be able to take the same portion of feed as the adult. The parents yet show their caring attitude in this regard by masticating considerably big chunk of food into the size their juveniles will find easy to munch on. Again, considering the number of juveniles in the tank you may have to find a way of managing the population of the fish in the tank — culling is the method that is often adopted to control the population. Despite their hardiness, Jack Dempseys may also get downed by some diseases which affected by freshwater species, and as observable in most diseased conditions affecting aquarium fishes; poor water quality and unhealthy diet are usually the primary causes.

The introduction of an infected species may also lead to the breakout of diseases in the tank. So without further ado, let us look at some of the diseases that can affect the well-being of your Jack Dempsey:. Infected Jack Dempsey fish will also experience discoloration and loss of appetite. Treatment is usually tailored towards addressing the root cause; for instance, antibiotics will be very much required in the situation whereby the disease is caused by Hexamita.

Additionally, the fish may suffer weight loss; become restless, and may sometimes rub its body against rocks and other hard surfaces. Fungal and bacterial infections may also occur as the immune system of the affected fish becomes dysfunctional or impaired.

Several medications like anthelmintics, formalin, praziquantel, and some organophosphates have been found to be highly potent in getting rid of skin flukes. Heat treatment and medications such as formalin and malachite green have been used, to significant effect, in taking care of fishes having freshwater ich.

The trick to having it around for a long while is simply in doing what is needful as at when due. Share 0. Tweet 0. Table of Contents. Join Our Pet Fish Community. Get the latest information on freshwater fishes and learn from expert reviews to guide you in your fishkeeping journey! This variety is slightly smaller and less aggressive. In the wild you will find Jack Dempsey fish living in a range of slow-moving freshwaters.

This includes murky rivers, canals, lakes, and swampy areas. They prefer tropical climates, so they are used to warm waters.

The environment would be slightly acidic with low light levels. Their surroundings would be a sandy, muddy substrate with rocks and debris sat on top. Plants would be dispersed around too. Starting at the bottom of the tank, pick a soft sandy substrate since Jack Dempseys spends lots of their time in the lower levels of the water. When adding decorations, make sure you have multiple caves spread around the tank so that your fish can find and claim their own territories.

However you might find that one day they decide they do not like the plants in the tank and have destroyed them. The pH should be and water hardness should be dGH. An air or water pump is not needed because they prefer slow-moving waters, you will just need a filter to create a slight current.

Avoid bright lights or your Jack Dempseys will just hideaway. Their natural water would be slightly murky so use some dimmer lights. Floating plants like hornwort can be used to shade certain areas. Keeping them in a big enough tank is important as a small tank will provoke their territorial tendencies.

Remember these fish are aggressive and need their own territory so give them each a spot to hideaway. Tankmates generally need to be a similar size with the same aggressive temperament. Peaceful species will be harassed, possibly to the point of death. Small fish like tetras will just be treated as food.

Oscar fish are a popular option as are Mbuna cichlids. Other choices include angelfish , Birchir, Blue Acara , clown loaches , convict cichlids , firemouth cichlids , Plecostomus , and silver dollars. Invertebrates like shrimp and snails are popular in tropical aquariums, but they will likely be viewed as a snack.

Keeping Jack Dempseys together in a species-only tank is the best option for beginners. It can be hard to keep other species alive.

Jack Dempseys have simple care requirements. The problems start when you keep a group or mix them with other species. If cared for poorly, your Jack Dempseys will start harassing each other and other species. If the aggression is handled properly, it is not difficult to keep them healthy. However, they can get diseases just like all other freshwater fish.

One of the most common issues is Ich white spot disease — this is an ectoparasite that appears as white nodules on the body and fins. This forms pits or cavities on the head. It is usually caused by poor nutrition, so you will need to change their diet if you spot it. An unhealthy environment usually promotes disease, so you need to keep the tank clean.