Dempsey Spaz~

[IvannaFish]

I have had a little Jack for about 6 months now. I bought it at PetCo when it was about and inch and a half or so long and now it is between 3 and 4 inches long. Anyhow, he/she was always very friendly...would swim up to the glass when you come by..eat from your hand ect.. now the past 2 days he/she has been freaking out when you walk near. He/She jets away from you and even smacked the glass a few times trying to get away. I noticed that he/she has started burrowing in the substrate and hiding. Is this normal? He is all alone..well there is one Dwarf Gourami in there with him that he doesn't mind (yet) Help!! I am worried. I just took a sample into my LFS and the perimeters are "perfect" he said. I don't get into all that with him because I don't understand that. I test once a week when I go in to buy fresh food. ~Vonna

 

[Big Vine]

Shot in the dark here...

You moved recently, right? Do you have any pets, such as cats, that would have messed around with the tank, or even just batted at the JD? They could have taken to doing that with the new arrangement of the tanks and furniture, etc. My cat bats at my fish (and crays) from time to time---we even catch her on top of the hood, on occasion.

How about kids? Would they be scaring the JD by trying to "play" with it?

I'm sure there's probably some other explanation, but I'm just guessing.

Big Vine

 

[IvannaFish]

Yeah, we did move but we have been here for a little over a month now. I did just do a water change and rearranged the furniture. That was a week ago though. He/She was fine then. Like I said it has just been going on for about 2 days. No inside pets..the kids know better. They are all older. I really dunno???

 

[Big Vine]

In that case I'm stumped...
Sorry Vonna. I'm sure someone else will chime in who's more experienced with cichlids.

Hope your JD is okay.
Big Vine

 

[IvannaFish]

Thanks for trying!

 

[Big Vine]

My pleasure.
I always enjoy trying to figure out what's going on with other people's fish---helps me figure out my own fish...well, most of the time anyway.

Big Vine

 

[IvannaFish]

I've been trying to blow fishy kisses but it just isn't working! He/She is eating fine but is just so skiddish. I'm super stumped

 

[IronRyno]

I have had my JD for about a year now. Bought him at 7" now 10". He's always been very skittish and cautious. I've heard it told that JD's are reclusive, almost nocturnal fish that prefer to stay in caves by day. Not sure if this is a rule but seems to be for my fish. Kind of a bummer for me, they're pretty fish.

 

[Orion]

Try adding some rocks or something else that I can use for caves, or a little get away from prying eyes. Most cichlids do like to have a place to call it's own.

When I had an oscar he was normaly the most friendly and curious fish one would ever run across. But every now and then it would take spells where it just wanted to be left alone and not seen or bothered.