Jack Dempseys are pretty easy to breed since they do not have heavy requirements for spawning. They are mostly seen around the north and central America. It is preferable to have a male blue spawn with a female blue-gene, since males are typically stronger and more aggressive. However, if breeding does not occur, then the fish can be conditioned by feeding them live foods until spawning occurs. For growing large individuals, the sizes of which exceed the standard, the volume is increased to 200 liters. The problem might happen when the male is ready for breeding while the female isn’t – that’s when you can expect the male to harass the female, sometimes even to the point of death. Youngsters hatch on the 20th day from the start of spawning. Family: Cichlidae. Your email address will not be published. I was wondering how i could breed them? They are ready to attack, protecting offspring. Only those people fail to achieve good results who ignore many important aspects that play a major role in breeding. Jack Dempseys are no exception and are found in slow-moving waters across North and Central America, such as Mexico and Honduras. When the fry reached about a quarter-inch in length, I could distinguish the opaque electric blues from their brown blue-gene siblings. Successfully producing blue fry tests the author’s mettle, but he finally gets the winning combination. While it will accept all types of food, the Jack is happier when eating live food like shellfish, young platies, or worms. These fish appear darker when they are ready to mate. The Electric Blue Jack Dempsey is a freshwater fish that originates in the murky warm waters of Central America. There were already many electric blues readily available in the tropical fish hobby by this time, so my first thought was to create the blue-gene Dempsey myself by breeding a male blue Jack Dempsey to a normal female Jack Dempsey. The Diamond Cichlasoma gave Dempsey a pearl neon glow, because of which this fish is sometimes called an electric blue. Visibly blue fry are weaker than normal-colored fry, whether blue-gene or pure normal, so the blue fry must be isolated as quickly as possible from their stronger, normal-colored siblings. The instinct of a fighter, which is characteristic of this fish, manifests itself if danger threatens the offspring. Electric Blue Jack Dempsey Breeding. Another characteristic feature of Electric Blue Jack Dempsey is the complex process of reproduction. Family: Cichlidae. Breeding Jack Dempsey Fish You can breed Jack Dempsey fish yourself, but this will require handling your fish when they are more aggressive than usual. Jack Dempseys are substrate spawners and breed in the open. As soon as spawning begins, The female lays eggs on stones, decor elements, grottoes, plant leaves or pits in the ground. Mendel is credited with discovering genetics. Females have a rounded dorsal fin. Up to one and a half months of age, young growth is extremely susceptible to disease. Dempsey needs enough living space for free movement. I was able to purchase some from an online auction. Breeding: Jack Dempsey females lay their eggs on flat rocks on the bottom of the aquarium, and the male fertilizes them, then both parents protect the eggs. Have a clean, flat surface for the fish to spawn and lay their eggs on. Dempsey should have 3-4 meals a day. From my experience with this fish, there are different amounts of blue coverage in mature adults, which probably depends on each specimen’s individual lineage. If the owner of the fish still decided to add variety to the fauna, then it is worth remembering the necessary amount of water and a sufficient number of shelters at the bottom. The Jack Dempsey fish are among the easiest fish to breed, as the female fish would usually lay around 500 to 800 eggs and make sure they lay them at a relatively safe area. Soon, the brilliant iridescent blue color began to shine through on the electric blues. When the heat level drops to +8 degrees Celsius, the blue Cichlasoma may die. Fish need shelters that are created with the help of snags, grottoes, large stones. 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. Breeding [edit | edit source] Once a pair has formed, Jack Dempseys can be exceptionally prolific parents. Although blue Cichlasoma is calm, they remain predators. Apistogramma Agassizii – Care, Size, Tank Mates & Details! Recommended pH range for the species: 7 - 8.5. In the wild, This beauty is found in the waters of Honduras and Mexico. I’m an Aquarium Keeper from the past 5+ years and here to let you know about your favorite fishes I hope you will enjoy my posts and share with like-minded fish keepers. As the name suggests, this morph has bright blue coloration. The caves and overturned flowerpots will serve as hiding places, letting the fish feel secure. I raised the blue specimens separately from the blue-genes so that the electric blues could catch up in size to the blue-gene juveniles. 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. Moreover, local breeding mostly occurs in farms around Florida and Australia. Prior to breeding, the parents will clean a flat space – usually a smooth rock or a space on the aquarium glass – before they deposit between 500-800 eggs on t… Comments: These are awesome fish that grow big and develop great rich colors. The Jack Dempsey (Rocio octofasciata) is a species of cichlid fish that is native to freshwater habitats from southern Mexico to Honduras, but also introduced elsewhere. I had traded some of my blue-gene Dempseys with him for some of his blues. When breeding, these colors will intensify. Emperor Tetra – Care, Feeding, Tank Mates & Details! Be prepared to remove fish from the tank if breeding attempts aren’t successful. Yummy. Required fields are marked *. If instead two of the normally colored specimens that were carrying the blue gene were mated to each other, this resulted in about 25 percent electric blue Jack Dempseys. This stems from their well-documented aggression toward one another. Now, depending on size and temperament, a JD may try to bully an Oscar. If the male is ready for mating but the female isn’t, she may be harassed to death. The gill plate of females is more colored and dense. In order to produce more electric blue Dempseys, these blue-gene offspring were bred to the original blue specimens. Breeding Jack Dempsey fish Identifying male and female Jack Dempsey fish. And also blue Cichlasomas is of interest for breeding work. To prevent inbreeding, purchase your fish from different breeders at different times. However, if breeding does not occur, then the fish can be conditioned by feeding them live foods until spawning occurs. Electric Blue Jack Dempsey fish live in pairs that form at an early age. Of course, the male’s colors become brighter during the breeding season. One thing to look out for is the possibility that the pair will try to bully and scare away the other fish. Jack Dempsey fish’s experts suggest raising small fish together and waiting for a pair to separate from the group. Also, please keep in mind that they have no problem eating smaller tank mates like neon tetras. The Jack Dempsey is a medium-to-large fish, which grows to a maximum of an adult size of 10″, but the range is 8-10″, (20-25 cm). Breeding Jack Dempsey Fish. The parents were very attentive to the eggs and the hundreds of larvae. adaptable and breed prolifically’.2 In their native range Jack Dempsey cichlids inhabit swampy areas with warm, murky water. The fish menu includes plant and animal feed. Jack Dempseys are substrate spawners and breed in the open. His name is Randy Sorenson, and he lived not too far from me in the San Diego area. Electric blue prefers a large bloodworm and a tubule. The color changes in the blue specimens were very interesting. ©2020 TFH Magazine, a Central Garden & Pet Company. We are preparing an article on the recent controversies and DNA studies of the blue Jack Dempsey to appear in a future issue of TFH. Feeding. Oct 7, 2013 227 0 0 Delawere. Males have a long and pointed dorsal fin. Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums. In this method, about 50 percent of the fry were blue, and 50 percent were the normal color, but since one parent was blue, all of these normal fry were blue-gene specimens. As for Jack Dempsey fish kept in a tank, they become reproductive at the age of 6 month already. Synodontis Catfish – Care, Types, Feeding, Tank Mates & Details! Such mixtures are saturated with the necessary amount of vitamins, herbal supplements, and minerals. Jack Dempsey Cichlid Community Tank. Jack Dempsey fish males reach a larger size than females. Keep your … Of great concern is that they are highly aggressive fish (named after the heavyweight boxer Jack Dempsey) and are likely to dominate and compete with native fish populations. The features of the species also include: It is recommended to separate the weaker electric blue fry from the total mass of young ones as early as possible. The body is decorated with black spots and broken lines. If you want to breed these fish, you’ll need to keep … These specimens were isolated and raised to maturity, at which time they were bred. They were soon guarding a huge swarm of free-swimming fry. Usual size in fish tanks: 15 - 20 cm (5.91 - 7.87 inch) 0 14. Spawn sizes can number into the hundreds. Their resulting offspring should all then carry the blue gene. Electric Blue Jack Dempsey cichlid can peacefully coexist with the following tank mates: A pair of blue Cichlasomas feels best if the aquarium belongs only to them. If the fry are not isolated when detectable, their normal-colored siblings will soon kill them. Breeding Jack Dempsey fish requires a separate breeding tank and patience. After a month, the temperature is reduced to the usual values for blue Cichlasomas. Jack Dempsey can be kept both single or in a large group. Flame Tetra (Von Rio Tetra) – Care, Tank Mates, Feeding & Details! In the male, the copulative organ becomes more visible, as does the ovipositor in the female. A distinctive feature of the Electric Blue Jack Dempsey is loyalty to one partner throughout life. It is not strange to see the female digging up pits where she would even… At the same time, you cannot overdo it. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App . Here’s what you need to know about keeping Jack Dempsey’s in your aquarium. If the male is ready to mate but the female is not, she may be harassed to the point of death. A new breed of the Jack Dempsey fish has been discovered that has a genetic mutation that causes it to be a much brighter shade of blue, leading to the new Jack’s distinction as the Electric Blue Jack. Therefore, it is recommended to replace it once every three days. Recommended pH range for the species: 7 - 8.5. Earlier I mentioned Mendel and his pea. The neat mouth is fitted with thick labial arches. Hola! Their color darkens when they are ready to mate. Conditions need to be close to perfect for initiating spawning. In the male, the copulative organ becomes more visible, as does the ovipositor in the female. Cichlids have diversified rapidly in these areas. I have seen solid blue fish, blotched blue fish, and speckled blue fish. Origin: The ancestors of these Jack Dempseys lived along the east coast of Central America from the Río Actopan river in Mexico south to eastern Honduras. If smaller fish become tankmates in the aquarium, then a blue Dempsey will be happy to arrange a hunting game for itself. Be prepared to remove fish from the tank if breeding attempts aren’t successful. Jack Dempsey Breeding Breeding these fish is possible, although they will need precise and exact water conditions to initiate the breeding. It is an exceptionally brilliant fish that would make a beautiful addition to any suitable tank. In the wild the fish becomes reproductive at about the age of 12 month. Despite the fact that the Jack Dempsey fish prefer marshy and muddy areas to live, the female Jack Dempsey ensure that they lay their eggs on a hard and stable surface.Both the males and females are responsible for taking care of the eggs before they hatch and are incredibly protective toward th… The Jack Dempsey fish can be very hardy once acclimated to your tank and should live for a very long time if properly fed with a varied diet. As for Jack Dempsey fish kept in a tank, they become reproductive at the age of 6 month already. One of the parents must have a blue gene. Jack Dempsey, or Rocio octofasciata, are fish from the Cichlidae family. This ensures compatibility and reduces the chances of fighting during courtship. When breeding Blue Dempsey, it is important to notice the signs of readiness for reproduction in the fish in time. They are smaller in the wild than they are in the home aquarium. Breeding Jack Dempsey fish is moderately difficult. Pay attention to the color of your fish when attempting breeding. When Spawning, only 20–25% of 100% of fry are blue cichlids which are considered successful. Before its current name, the first was known as Cichlasoma, Archocentrus, and Heros. Mendel is credited with discovering genetics. They will do this in both breeding aquariums and community ones. Shrimps and small fish give blue cichlids a special treat. You’ll need to move them around accordingly. Usual size in fish tanks: 15 - 20 cm (5.91 - 7.87 inch) 0 14. All trademarks are either the property of Central Garden & Pet Company, its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliated and/or related companies or the property of their respective owners. They are quite big fish, which makes them appropriate for larger tanks – tanks of 80 gallons at least. They started showing their color as early as about a half-inch in length. When both groups were comparable in size, I put them all together in a 180-gallon tank. Since I first set eyes on this blue morph known as the electric blue Jack Dempsey, I have been determined to breed it. Breeding Jack Dempsey in Tank Breeding Jack Dempsey will require a lot of patience because the biggest obstacle towards success is actually having a mature breeding pair and the hardest part is finding a compatible partner. If you worry about the fish making a mess with other fish in the tank, you can keep it single. large sizes – the length of the medium-sized fish is about 20 cm, high incidence of juveniles in the first two months, color becomes apparent only when the fish reaches 6 mm in length. Breeding of Jack Dempsey Fish. ! At the beginning of the mating season, a pair of blue Cichlasomas is transplanted into a separate aquarium and the temperature of the aquatic environment is increased to +30 degrees Celsius. If they do breed i will start a new post in the breeding forum. This species will easily spawn far more fry than you can re home! This will help with encouraging breeding. Siamese Algae Eater – Care, Feeding, Tank Mates & Details You Need! A pair of Jack Dempsey fish will darken when they are ready to match their colors. Electric Blue Jack Dempsey is a fish with an amazing story. 5 Benefits of Fish Keeping At Home & Its Brings Wealth Too! This stems from their well-documented aggression toward one another. Males or Females? Their anal and dorsal fins are noticeably larger. Scientific name: Cichlasoma octofasciatum. Your email address will not be published. On a other note can i breed a convict with a jack dempsey? Males have black spots on the tail, body. Returning to the subject of the Jack Dempsey and the Oscar fish, JD's tend to be more retiring in general, so you can expect to see a great deal more of the Oscar than you do of the JD. We’ll call these “blue-gene” fish as opposed to visibly blue fish, also called “electric blue.” Both wild-type or “normal” Dempseys with no blue genes and “blue-gene” Dempseys with one normal gene and one blue gene are normally colored. Therefore, it is recommended to plant algae in pots. It almost looks like a blue beard. To begin my quest to reproduce the electric blue Jack Dempsey, I had to first procure some fish that carried the blue gene. Over time, the fish learns to recognize the owner, which indicates the presence of the rudiments of intellectual activity. Anyway, I once again drove down to his place and purchased some young electric blues and blue-gene Jack Dempseys for breeding stock. Adult blue Dempsey cichlids have a peaceful, even meek disposition. There are also invasive populations of this fish that have been established in Australia, the United States, and parts of Asia. Here, you can find out everything you need to know about keeping fish and aquarium maintenance. The acid level of the water should be neutral with a hardness slightly above average. Jun 6, 2010. When a pair of Jack Dempseys are ready to mate their colors will darken. Molly Fish – Care, Types, Breeding, Habitat & Details, Betta Fish Tank Mates – 5 Good And 5 Bad Betta Fish Tank Mates. As the Jack Dempsey originally come from Central America, the water should be alkaline and little bit harder (dGH 18.0 – 30.0 °N ~ 321 – 535 ppm ~ 6.43 – 10.72 mEq, and pH of 7.0 – 8.5). It’s a must that you to keep a close eye on their progress. This species of fish is known for forming nuclear families. This resulted in offspring that carried the blue gene, but they did not show it. So if you feel up to the task and have the room, it’s worth it. Breeding. Jack Dempseys are relatively easy to breed and do best when you raise four or five together and wait for one pair to leave the group. They … The seller was already producing a nice strain of electric blue Jack Dempseys from his efforts. Jack Dempseys are carnivores, which means that they prefer frozen foods as well as live foods. Water should be fresher than usual. I don't want any of the other fish in the tank to be breeding, I want them there more as buddies or neighbors in the tank. The water needs to be clean and within the parameters outlined earlier. Stay tuned!—Eds. In addition, males differ from females in more intense coloring. It’s a must that you to keep a close eye on their progress. The reason that Electric Blue Jack Dempsey’s are so hard to breed is because they are a mutation of the species. Scientific Name: Rocio octofasciataCommon Name: Electric Blue Jack DempseyMax Size: 12″pH: 6.0-8.0Hardness: HardTemperature: 70-82°Aggressiveness: AggressiveRegion of Origin: Central AmericaCaptive Bred or Wild: Captive BredDiet: Flake or pellet, frozen and live foodCompatibility: Alone, in pairs, or with similarly sized Central or South American cichlidsMinimum Tank Size: 55 gallons. These fish appear darker when they are ready to mate. It is also slightly smaller than the standard morph. Although Jack Dempsey is aggressive, it is not the most aggressive cichlid. I want something maybe 5 to 6 inches that will do well with a jack dempsey, meaning not get eaten. I was able to net out this pair and isolate them in a 20-gallon tank. Males have a row of spots directly under their eyes, and there is less color underneath the gill plate. This pair immediately made themselves at home and began cleaning house. As the saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!”, [Despite prevalent thought that the blues might be hybrids, it seems clear now that they are not. Pairing a strong blue-gene male with a weaker electric blue female is very risky. A zealous amateur aquarist took 10 years of hard work to stabilize the mutation. Breeding Jack Dempseys is not difficult for those people who have detailed knowledge and fulfil all requirements to provide a better environment. Breeding Electric Blue Jack Dempsey Cichlids is a little more difficult than breeding most other kinds of Cichlids. T… Jack Dempsey can be kept both single or in a large group. Recommended water hardness (dGH): 18 - 30°N (321.43 - 535.71ppm) 0°C 32°F 30°C 86°F For the first days of life, the fry will have a light color. I have a 5 inch male and 4 inch female jack dempsey. Breeding Electric Blue Jack Dempsey Cichlids is a little more difficult than breeding most other kinds of Cichlids. This may necessitate your removing the remaining fish from the tank before they’re killed. However, they do become more aggressive and territorial during the process, even resorting to biting. 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. Jack Dempsey fish are monogamous, and they mate for life. However, getting to see two fish working together to raise their fry is a unique experience. After I won the auction, I realized that I had actually met this person earlier after reading his link on Cichlid-forum.com. I knew I finally had a fertile pair! They will often breed over a thoroughly cleaned and inspected flat rock such as slate, or within a medium-large clay flower pot turned on its’ side. Conditions need to be near perfect for spawning to be initiated. Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums. In wild, Dempsey prefers canals with a silt-covered bottom and dense vegetation. 5 Facts About Jack Dempsey Fish. Only those people fail to achieve good results who ignore many important aspects that play a major role in breeding. After much patience and trial-and-error, my breeding attempts to create my own strain of gorgeous electric blue Jack Dempseys finally brought rewards. Aggression is so high that fry can suffer. The gill plate of females is more colored and dense. Molly fish is considered to be one of the favorites for beginner aquarists. Earlier I mentioned Mendel and his pea. This was before he was successfully producing an electric blue Jack Dempsey strain. Most of the time, the reason why breeders fail is because most of the identified fish is hand-picked and then selected to be added together usually after their sexual maturity age. Jack Dempsey Fish Breeding You can always tell when these cichlids are primed for mating, as they will start changing colors. The blue fry have an opaque coloring compared to normal-colored fish, and this difference can be detected when the fry are about a quarter of an inch in length. Females are not too difficult to spot because they are usually smaller and have more-rounded fins. The total number of eggs in treasures usually does not exceed 2 thousand. Breeding process with Jack Dempsey. This species has become an invasive species in Thailand, Russia, and the United States; The bright blue Jack Dempsey is the result of a genetic mutation. Its common name refers to its aggressive nature and strong facial features, likened to that of the famous 1920s boxer Jack Dempsey. I was reading a web site about breeding JD's and apparently you can coax them into breeding by placing a mirror next to the tank so the male can see his reflection. Females have a rounded dorsal fin. Nick G. Member. Since Dempsey lives in the wetlands of water bodies in the wild, aquarium vegetation should be dense and fast-growing. When the fish “teens” are kept together in one tank they create couples themselves.Forced formation of the fish couple may be rather troublesome, since Jack Dempsey fish males are rather demanding in this respect.So, if you aim to create the fish couple not for just one spawning, it’s better to let the fish male choos… Males have a row of spots directly under their eyes, and there is less color underneath the gill plate. Their resulting offspring should all then carry the blue gene. Gourami Fish – Care, Tank Mates, Types, Habitat & Details! Electric Blue Hap – Care, Feeding, Tank Mates & Details! Dempsey’s head is large, with large expressive eyes. Electric Blue – Through selective breeding, humans have developed an “electric blue” colored morph of this species. The third spawning actually proved to be the charm. Jack Dempsey Breeding. Premium Jack Dempsey Cichlid, 1.5″ to 2″ long for $4.49 Electric Blue Jack Dempsey, .75″ to 1″ long for $24.99 Electric Blue Jack Dempsey, 3.5″ to 4″ long for $39.99 As a preventive and improving measure, it is recommended to raise the water temperature to +32 degrees Celsius. But now they live in … It almost looks like a blue beard. There were already many electric blues readily available in the tropical fish hobby by this time, so my first thought was to create the blue-gene Dempsey myself by breeding a male blue Jack Dempsey to a normal female Jack Dempsey. Why these are perfect fish for big aquariums? Our aim is to help educate anyone who wants to keep fish. Inside, I placed a PVC cave that I weighed down with rocks so it would maintain a stable position. Petsmart.com sells a small jack dempsey cichlid for $4, and a medium-sized one for $12.99 Aquariumfish.net sells a couple of color variants. They prefer an enclosed spot. For blue Dempsey, compatibility with fish of equal sizes is not a problem. The flat rocks are essential during breeding, as the fish will lay their eggs there. Breeding Jack Dempsey will require a lot of patience because the biggest obstacle towards success is actually having a mature breeding pair and the hardest part is finding a compatible partner. Nov 5, 2018 - The Jack Dempsey fish is one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish. The Jack Dempsey (Rocio octofasciata) is a species of cichlid fish that is native to freshwater habitats from southern Mexico to Honduras, but also introduced elsewhere.
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