They will breed often and can produce hundreds of eggs per spawn. It’s quite simple to take care of Rocio octofasciata, since it’s not demanding, so it can be kept by the beginners. As this species grows large, it is common to use it as the centerpiece for an aquarium. Jack Dempsey one of the most wildly kept cichlids around the globe. Class: Actinopterygii 4. Electric Blue Jack Dempsey Features A distinctive feature of the Electric Blue Jack Dempsey is loyalty to one partner throughout life. Jack Dempsey Cichlids’ life spans up to 15 years. You’ll need an acidic (pH level below 7.0) and relatively soft water (dGH about 12). He is also in love with one of my six cats. 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). Jack dempsey’s will eat small fish, earthworms, snails, insects as well as plants, vegetables, lettuce. I am glad he has such interaction, even if he is still a solitary fish. Your email address will not be published. Diet of Jack Dempsey Fish These fish are excellent large tank companions for fish such as the Oscar as they can compete in size seeing as how Jack Dempseys can reach ten inches in length. He also uproots the fake plastic plants I set in there. Species: R. octofasciata Dempseys are top feeders and prefer to eat food while it’s floating as opposed to picking it from the ground. I am glad I am giving him a better home. They also love to hide so if you are considering buying a Jack, then you should drop in a clay pot in its tank. he's so big, I had a hard time figuring out what to give him to hide in. Jack Dempsey fish is native to Central America Atlantic hillsid… With proper care, the life expectancy of Electric Blue Jack Dempsey is 10 years. Flowerhorn Behaviour. Watch them closely. Yummy. Also these giants have a quite impressive lifespan and can live up to 12 years! Jack Dempsey By OutlierForLife (Flickr) Jack Dempsey, or Rocio octofasciata, are fish from the Cichlidae family. He also loves to hide in his flower pot and PVC pipe elbow. You need to get your JD into a much bigger tank as soon as possible. They get quite large so they should be fed a high quality pelleted food and large chunk foods such as meat or fish. They will get more aggressive the more cramped they feel, especially if you have a mated pair. Like other cichlids, feed your Jack Dempseys two to three times a day, but only as much as they’ll devour in a minute or two. The dorsal and anal fins of mature males have long, pointed tips. Known for being an aggressive yet gorgeous fish, Jack Dempsey is also known to be able to survive for up to 15 years of age! He'll ignore eating or whatnot if the cat is in the room. Water quality can influence this significantly, so keep your tank clean to prevent disease-causing organisms from breedin… Jack Dempseys are prone to skin flukes and other parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc. It is recommended to read up on the common tank diseases. I have a huge PVC pipe elbow (6"), and that is his favorite spot. Is it just me or do Dempseys love caves? Family: Cichlidae 6. Jack Dempsey fish is a cichlid species that is widely distributed throughout North and Central America (south of Mexico to Honduras). The Jack Dempsey Cichlid has several colourful speckles across its body and almost a stained glass effect on the dorsal fin that will be displa… Jack Dempsey fish’s experts suggest raising small fish together and waiting for a pair to separate from the group. It also has dark colored bands appearin… Aquarists. Order: Perciformes 5. This fish has an average life span of 8-10 years but have been known to live up to 15 years if taken care of properly with a healthy environment. The blue rams stay quite small for cichlids (2 inches maybe) and would make a nice snack for a full grown Jack Dempsey. It is recommended that the Jack Dempsey cichlid is provided with plenty of places to hide. Be prepared to remove the fish before this happens. Keeping them in a smaller tank such as the 20 gallon can stunt its growth and shorten it's life span. Also, please keep in mind that they have no problem eating smaller tank mates like neon tetras. A fairly hardy fish, caring for a Jack Dempsey is easy. You may need to remove the other fish from the tank if they become too dangerous to the other fish in the tank. Above: a nice young Pink Jack Dempsey swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture. If properly maintained and cared for, Jack Dempseys can live for up to eight to 10 years. These amazing Cichlids are beautiful fish but need some specialist care needs. Double the amount of filters typically needed for your tank (I have two Penguin 350's going). They will often claim a cave first and be very aggressive to other tank mates that swim near its home. Kingdom: Animalia 2. So here I’ve compiled a list of fish with long lifespans. ), fungal infections, and bacterial infections. Jack Dempsey Fish Overview. Or use an aquarium divider to prevent any aggression. enable_page_level_ads: true However, you have to keep in mind that this is an aggressive fish that gets on well with other cichlid species while it’s young, but as the fish grows it becomes more and more aggressive, so then it’s desirable to keep it without any other tank mates or only with large fishes. Jack Dempsey Fish for Sale A large ornery Central American Cichlid. But the marine lovers also like to keep pet fish in their aquariums. On one hand, these fish are truly beautiful. Keep an eye on any tank mates you have in their aquarium as well, as many Dempseys will readily attack and eat anything they can get their mouths on. Privacy Policy | SiteMap | Aquarium Dictionary | Affiliate Disclosure | Contact Us. Its genus name Rocio was named after the wife of the describing author, Regan, and its Spanish interpretation means “morning dew,” an allusion to the sparkling scales on the cheeks and sides. These sassy cichlids have a lifespan between 8-15 years. But, given the right setup, it can be a good tank mate if kept with similar cichlids. Apr 21, 2019 - Jack Dempsey cichlid- A complete care guide for beginners and experts. The parents can get very aggressive during this time and do a remarkable job of protecting their young fry. Genus: Rocio 8. It’s possible to raise these cichlids for over 15 years if kept properly, although average lifespan of Jack dempseys is between 8 to 10 years. Breeding. Jack Dempsey Cichlasoma octofasciatum. Jack Dempsey Cichlids comes in a range of colors; the most popular ones are blues, pinks, and golds. Females lack these exaggerated tips. Be careful to not overfeed warm blooded meat (such as beef and poultry) as the types of amounts of proteins and fats in these foods can be harmful to fish if they are overfeed. Gender : Females may be smaller and less colorful. The lifespan of Jack Dempsey Cichlid (Rocio octofasciata) is around eight to ten years but this can vary enormously depending on tank conditions and general health. Breeding / Mating / Reproduction : If you have a mated pair, it is very easy to breed them. Photo Credit : Photos copyright JJPhoto.dk, Fish Lore Forum : Jack Dempsey Cichlid Forum. They have a pointed anal and dorsal fins. Nov 5, 2018 - The Jack Dempsey fish is one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish. Very messy eaters. Jack Dempsey cichlids generally require a simple care regimen when it comes to their health, especially if you don’t keep a large group in one tank or combine them with other fish species. Required fields are marked *. Indeed, we love to have different types of pets. we assume it's at least 30 gallons) and put 9 guppies and 3 platies in it. It can be cats, dogs, or different exotic animals if the law permits. Feb 14, 2020 - Explore Deverick McKenzie's board "Jack Dempsey Fish" on Pinterest. Pellets work better than flakes because they don’t have the tendency to scatter so much. Published August 6, 2019Author: Mike - FishLore AdminSocial Media: The Jack Dempsey fish is a fairly popular Central American Cichlid and is named after the famous boxer from the 1920's. © FishLore.com - providing tropical fish tank and aquarium information for freshwater fish and saltwater fish keepers.About FishLore | The Jack Dempsey is quite an aggressive as well as territorial fish and it has pronounced facial features that can be likened to that of Jack Dempsey, a popular 1920s boxer. Feed such foods, such as the commonly fed beef heart, sparingly and only as an occasional treat. Jack dempseys are very good eaters and like to eat flakes, pellets, freeze dried bloodworms, brine shrimp and love live foods. Jack Dempsey is native to Honduras and Guatemala. But the Electric Blue and Electric Pink variations do not grow as large and are not as ornery, so they are better aquarium fish in most cases. Jack dempsey Fish Life Span It’s possible to raise these cichlids for over 15 years if kept properly, although average lifespan of Jack dempseys is between 8 to 10 years. The common name for the Jack Dempsey may make you think that this fish is a bruiser. But, given the right setup, it can be a good tank mate if kept with similar cichlids. Watch your fish carefully as the more aggressive ones will eat quicker and may leave little to nothing for less aggressive fish. Watch for aggressiveness and remove or use an aquarium divider if necessary. In fact, maintaining it healthily will allow it to live for even 15 years. Because handling their aggression can be a challenge, you should only consider keeping Jack Dempseys if you’re a relatively experienced aquarist. It's a very nice looking fish and they have great personalities. Aquarium Size : 55 gallon minimum for one Jack Dempsey, much larger for multiples. The easiest and most common way to provide Jack Dempseys the diet they need is to feed them with dried pellets or flakes that float at the top the fish tank. Jack Dempsey Fish | A Complete Care Guide . As such, Jack Dempseys typically stay in waters of a temperature of 72-86 °F (22-30 °C). Their sparkling blue and cyan bodies make them the highlight of an aquarium. The coloration changes as the fish matures from a light gray or tan with faint turquoise flecks to a dark purple-gray with very bright, iridescent blue, green, and gold flecks. If you have a mated pair you will soon find out that they breed easily and are remarkable parents. With proper care, Jack Dempseys can live from eight to ten years. Discus Fish | A complete Guide, their Origin, Types, Care Guide, Breeding . Jack dempsey Fish Feeding Feeding jack dempseys isn’t that complicated. 1. The very first thing that will appeal to you upon sighting the Jack Dempsey fish is its striking pearlescent coloration.It is very attractive, and full of colors; the skin is dark purple-grey and has iridescent scales of blue gold and green spread all over the body, the fins inclusive. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({ These long-lived fish include the Goldfish, Cichlids like the Angelfish, Discus, Jack Dempsey, Demasoni and Peacock; the Peacock Eels; and … The following fishes have average lifespans over 10 or more years! By having a lengthy lifespan, these cichlids make great fish to keep in an aquarium. This ensures compatibility and reduces the chances of fighting during courtship. A tropical freshwater fish, they prefer warmer waters with a temperature between 72-86˚F and a pH between 6.0-7.0. Lifespan of Jack Dempsey Fish You are in luck if you prefer long-living species in your aquarium since, on an average, Jack Dempseys live up to 8-10 years. 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