Are you looking for dainty fish for your tank? Then, you should pick Jack Dempsey Cichlid. This fish is one of my favorite cichlids. You should pick Jack Dempsey Cichlid if you want a fish with a great personality.
The name “Jack Dempsey Cichlid” came from the legendary heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey. Jack Dempsey is an active and aggressive fish that adds excitement to the fish aquarium. However, this fish is mostly for experienced fish keepers.
Are you looking forward to keeping a Jack Dempsey cichlid in your tank? If yes, you will have a straightforward guide on caring for them.
Jack Dempsey Cichlid: Overview
Jack Dempsey Cichlid (Rocio octofasciata), a member of the Cichlidae family, is native to the rivers and streams of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize. It is a colorful fish.
This fish prefers to live in sluggish-moving water like ponds, springs, and rivers. It can survive even in hot water temperatures up to 86 degrees. This proves that the nature of the fish is appropriate to its name.
| Scientific Name | Rocio octofasciata |
| Minimum Tank Size | 80 gallons |
| Size | 10-15 inches |
| Lifespan | 8-15 years |
| Temperature | 74–85°F |
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| pH | 6.0-7.0 |
| Hardness | 9-20 dGH |
| Care Level | Intermediate |
| Color | Purple, Green, Pink, Blue, and Gray |
| Breeding | Egg Layer |
Origin And Natural Habitat
Jack Dempsey cichlid originally inhabited shallow and slow-moving water in Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Belize.
You can find this fish in natural caves in Central and Southern America. In Australia and Thailand, you can find them as Mexican Blue Frontosa.
Jack Dempsey Cichlid prefers a habitat that has a year-round warm climate, with insects, worms, and small fish to feed on.
Appearance And Behavior
Jack Dempsey cichlids are colorful fish with shimmering scales. They have large, oval bodies. This fish has longer bodies with large dorsal and anal fins. You can find these fish in different colors like pink, blue, silver, green, and purple. As they grow, the color of their bodies changes.
The color of their base can be rosy pink or dusky, or almost black. Their bodies are covered in iridescent, metallic green/blue spangles. Their appearance makes them eye-catching. As the fish swims, these spots reflect light. This is the reason they shine while they swim.
Electric Blue Jack Dempsey cichlid is a popular variety that is less aggressive than the normal Jack Dempsey cichlid.
The iridescent spangles become more pronounced when they get older and larger. Due to their appearance, they look truly stunning.
Jack Dempsey cichlids are known as aggressive cichlids. However, you will find male Jack Dempsey cichlids more aggressive than females. They tend to bully and chase small and vulnerable fish. These fish are territorial and tend to chase off the fish that crosses their territory.
You need to make sure not to over-crowd the aquarium that contains Jack Dempsey cichlids.
How Big Do They Get?
The estimated size of Jack Dempsey cichlids is up to 15 inches long when they are fully grown. Males grow up to 12 inches in length, while females grow up to 10 inches in the wild. In the aquarium, the male Jack Dempsey cichlids can grow up to the length of 10 inches, and females can grow up to the length of 8 inches if they are given enough space to swim.
Lifespan
The expected lifespan of a Jack Dempsey cichlid is 10 – 15 years in an aquarium. Females are smaller than males. Females have a body length of up to 6 inches, and males have a body length that reaches up to 8 inches.
Jack Dempsey: Tank Setup and Water Conditions
Providing a tank with the required setup and decorations for Jack Dempsey cichlid is very essential.
Aquarium Size
A single Jack Dempsey cichlid needs 55 gallons of the tank. If you are planning to increase the number of Jack Dempsey cichlids, you need to increase the tank size as well.
You need to provide them with a tank with enough space so that they can make their own territories. When it comes to aquarium size, bigger aquariums are always better.
If you wish to keep a pair of Jack Dempsey cichlids, you will need a tank size of 100 gallons.
Choosing The Best Aquarium For Jack Dempsey Cichlid
- First, you need to get a tank that is neither too small nor too large. The smaller-sized tank will cause stress in Jack Dempsey cichlids. Similarly, larger-sized tanks are difficult to maintain.
- A tight aquarium lid is very essential to avoid unwanted visitors, rodents, and insects.
- An aquarium that is easily breakable is a waste of money. So, choose the one made with sturdy materials. If you are looking for a durable aquarium, choose one that is made up of acrylic.
Equipment
Getting only the aquarium is not enough. You need to get the proper equipment to provide a better environment for your fish.
Filtration
Filtration is a must in a fish aquarium. The filtration system will provide clean and clear water for your fish. You can choose the best filtration system found in the market.
Why Is The Filtration System Important for Jack Dempsey Cichlids?
The filtration system is a crucial thing that is needed for all fish. Fish produce waste. The larger the fish, the larger will be the waste produced by them. The waste produced by the fish remains at the bottom of the tank. This breaks down into ammonia which is harmful and toxic to fish.
Luckily, there are bacterias that are good for the aquarium. The bacterias eat the toxic chemicals. One kind of bacteria eats ammonia and turns that into nitrite. Nitrite is also toxic for fish. However, another type of bacteria eats nitrite, and something known as nitrate remains in the tank. Hence, this process is known as the nitrogen cycle.
Since Jack Dempsey fish is a large fish, I recommend you get a larger filter for their aquarium.
Heater
Like any other cichlid, Jack Demsey cichlid also needs a certain water temperature to adjust. Normally, they live in a warm habitat. To imitate their natural habitat, the heater is essential equipment.
You can find different kinds of heaters. Choose a bigger heater with better quality so that your cichlid can live in a better environment.
I hope you remember that these cichlids cannot survive in cold temperatures. Generally, they need a water temperature of 74–85°F. Make sure to give them a good quality heater so that they do not end up getting any disease or sickness.
Plants And Substrate
If you are planning to keep big plants in a Jack Dempsey cichlid aquarium, you are going to be disappointed. The fish might end up ripping up the plants. They don’t eat the plants, but they drag and damage them.
Any plant that is rooted will be destroyed by them. However, floating plants like water sprite, pennywort, hornwort, frogbit, etc., are not harmed by this fish.
You must be careful when choosing a substrate for Jack Dempsey cichlid. If you choose planted soil substrate, your tank will end up messy because these fish tend to dig the substrate.
You can choose either sand or gravel for the substrate. When the fish finishes digging the sand, it will settle down.
Since they change their color according to the surrounding, they choose darker colors like brown. This will make their iridescent spangle stand out.
Don’t forget to give each of them their own cave and territory to swim around. This will also give them a darker place to retreat themselves.
How to decorate a tank for Jack Dempsey cichlid?
Jack Dempsey cichlids need an open and large space to swim around. They also need a separate cave and a territory to call their own.
Add some large pieces of rocks or driftwood to their tank so that the fish can use it as a hiding spot.
When they get scared or stressed, they can hide behind the rocks or caves and retreat themselves.
Jack Dempsey: Diet Requirements
Jack Dempsey cichlids are carnivorous and feed on insects, worms, small fish, and so on. However, they aren’t picky when it comes to food.
You need to make sure to provide them with a lot of proteins. Give them dried, live, and frozen foods that give them enough protein.
Here are some foods to feed Jack Dempsey cichlids.
- Brine shrimp
- Grasshoppers
- Fruitflies
- Frozen shrimp
- Bloodworms
- Crickets
Make sure to feed them a balanced diet. Give them live and frozen food in a fixed interval or routine.
You might think they only feed on meats. Jack Dempsey cichlids being called a carnivore is true. However, they also need vegetables to maintain their diet. Give them greens like cabbage, lettuce, and dandelion leaves.
Tank Mates
Jack Dempsey cichlids are territorial fish. You need to be careful while choosing the tank mates for them. The best option is to keep similar-sized cichlids with the Jack Dempsey cichlids of similar temperament.
Here are some cichlids that go well with Jack Dempsey Cichlids.
- Angel Fish
- Oscar Fish
- Plecos
- Blue Acara
- Clown Loaches
- Silver Dollar Fish
- Firemouth Cichlids
- Other Jack Dempsey Cichlids
Are you thinking of filling the entire tank with Jack Dempsey cichlids? If yes, then you can do so. With the increase in the number of fish, you need to increase the space of the tank as well.
Incompatible Cichlids For Jack Dempsey Cichlids
You cannot put any fish with Jack Dempsey cichlid. Avoid smaller-sized cichlids that can be eaten by your cichlid. Smaller-sized cichlids can be easy-to-catch fish, and they cannot resist eating these smaller fish. Avoid keeping invertebrates with these fish.
Breeding
Since breeding is a sensitive process, it requires a separate tank. Once they grow up to 8 inches long, they become sexually mature.
The color of the fish indicates that Jack Dempsey cichlid is ready to mate. Generally, the color indicates the timeline of the breeding period.
To initiate the breeding process, you need to select a larger male among the Jack Dempsey cichlids you have. Select a pair for breeding and separate them with a divider or place them in s separate tank.
The pair is ready to breed when their color starts to darken. The male is said to perform a mating dance to show off to the female.
Provide them a cave to perform a spawn. The male Jack Dempsey cichlid will make a flat surface where the female can lay eggs. The female lays up to 500 eggs.
Until the eggs get hatched, the female will guard the eggs (for 3-4 days). Feed the parent cichlids fish food. They will crush some food to feed their fry.
Separate the fry from the parent cichlid when they are 3 days old to prevent the parent cichlids from eating their fry.
Jack Dempsey Diseases
You have to be careful about the health of your cichlid. This fish can have diseases that you must have knowledge about.
Some common diseases are:
Ich
Ich is a parasitic disease caused by a tiny organism known as Ichthyophthirius Multifilis. This parasite causes white spots on the fish’s skin and gills. This can cause the death of your fish.
The parasites can be found in bodies of water. They propagate when new fish are added to your tank.
Treatment For Ich
Remove the infected fish from the tank and keep it in a separate tank. This will help to prevent other fish from getting infected.
You can also use medicines like formalin and malachite green. You can also increase between 82-86 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dropsy
It is a condition where the fluids get into the body and tissue of the fish. This causes your Jack Dempsey cichlid to have a swollen belly, protruding ulcers, scales, and reddening of the fins and vent.
Treatment For Dropsy
Separate the infected Jack Dempsey cichlid and keep it in a new tank. Provide your fish with excellent food and water quality. Use medication like API PIMAFIX Antifungal.
Try using salt to kill bacteria and fungi. If you have a tank of 55 gallons, add 1 gallon of salt to the tank.
Hole In The Head
This disease is caused by the flagellate parasite Hexamita. Generally, this parasite infects the intestinal tract of the fish. Small holes are seen in the body of the fish near its head. It can also spread to the kidneys, spleen, and bladder.
This disease is caused due to stress, overcrowding, and poor water quality.
Treatment For Hole In The Head
The most common medication for this disease is Metronidazole. Separate the infected fish from the tank. Make sure to provide them with quality water and food. Avoid overcrowding the tank and give your fish proper nutrition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Often Should I Feed My Jack Dempsey Cichlid?
Feed the juvenile Jack Dempsey cichlids 2-3 times a day. It would help if you fed the adult Jack Dempsey cichlids 1-2 times a day. Since food is a key to growth, providing a balanced diet helps them grow faster. Give them only those foods that they can eat quickly.
How Big Do Jack Dempsey Cichlids Get?
Jack Dempsey cichlids ate quite a large fish. Males can have a length of up to 12 inches long, and females can have a length of up to 10 inches when they are in the wild.
In captivity, males can have a length of 10 inches, and females can have a length of 8 inches at maximum.
Should I Keep Smaller-sized Fish With Jack Dempsey Cichlid?
Yes, if you are planning to give focus on this fish, you can get one. If you want to keep smaller-sized cichlids with Jack Dempsey cichlids, you shouldn’t do so. Since they are aggressive fish, they will kill smaller-sized fish.
Conclusion
Jack Dempsey cichlids are popular for their gorgeous colorful patterns. As they are aggressive fish, they need careful management. I think you have learned all the guides about Jack Dempsey cichlids, and you can easily keep one. With the above guides and knowledge, you can keep Jack Dempsey cichlids in your aquarium with proper tank setups.
