Coloration of Jack Dempseys'

JDiddy4981

JDiddy4981

Large Fish
#1
Jun 2, 2003
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St Louis
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#1
I have 5 Jacks in my tank right now. Two of the 5 are very dark and the other three are very light. The two dark ones seem to be buddy buddy with each other, and when one of the three come out of hiding the two darks ones run them back into hiding. Does this mean that maybe the two dark ones are my dominant pair? I only have room for two in my tank. Should I pull the three out now?? Thanks!!

J
 

Purple

Purple

Superstar Fish
#5
Oct 31, 2003
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#5
Originally posted by GRaff71884
Just pee in your tank, you will know then which two are dominant!
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Sorry - that's just cracked me up - lmao

I have a suspicion these are going to be very small fish. You really need to see how things turn out for a bit longer - could be months yet. If one fish has a bigger growth rate than the others it can be enough to throw the balance, and I think if these fish are under 3 inches (only a guess) then it's way to early to tell.
 

st.anger

st.anger

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#7
Feb 28, 2004
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#7
you most likely have a pair forming if there sticking together and pushing the other fish off, as for the darkness of the, when i bred JDs they would go darker then normal,

Originally posted by Cichlid-Man
Well, a lot of times dark cichlids mean stress. Unless there is some real pecking and nagging that can be harmful i'd keep them in a little longer.

About how big are they, any other colors yet?
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every stressed cichlid i have ever seen was a faded or drab color and dark when fighting or breding.
 

Avalon

Avalon

Superstar Fish
#9
Oct 22, 2002
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Ft. Worth, TX
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#9
I have 3 JD's consisting of one male and two females. The male and one of the females have been "paired up" ever since I have had them. Their colors are dark, but still colorful. The other female is very pale in comparison, and is not well liked by the paired up JD's. The lone female is the one that doesn't look right. The dark, paired up JD's are very healthy, and exhibit normal behavior, while the other female is very skiddish.

I know which JD is going back to the LFS. ;)
 

JDiddy4981

JDiddy4981

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#10
Jun 2, 2003
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#10
Mine is the same way as your avalon. But now, I noticed that one of the darker JD's has apparently layed eggs and the two darker ones take turns gaurding them. Does this mean they are fertilized???? They are really young JD's only about 2 - 2 1/2" long.
 

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