Adult:




Young (same fish):




Size - 8 inches
pH - 7.0
Temp. - 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Minimum Tank Size - 55 Gallons
Origin - Guatemala, Honduras, Yucatan
Diet - Frozen and Pelleted food including bloodworms, brine shrimp, and cichlid pellets
Care Level - Intermediate
Temperament - Moderately Aggressive

The Electric Blue Jack Dempsey is a variant of the common Jack Dempsey, part of the cichlid family of fish. It gets is name from the brilliant coloration that it presents as it enters adulthood. Many have speculated as to whether this fish is a hybrid fish formed from another fish breeding or whether it comes from a naturally occurring gene that would be produced in nature. Both sides have good arguments. However, I tend to lean towards the gene for two reasons. One, because it can be reproduced by breeding an Electric Blue with an Electric Blue Gene carrier, and two, because it carries all of the same rituals and habits of the normal Jack Dempsey and because of it's color, would not be found in nature because it would stick out like a sore thumb to both the parent who would cull the different looking ones and to a predator who finds the colorful and weaker ones easier meals.

The Electric Blue Jack Dempsey has a milder manner than the normal Jack Dempsey. However, don't let that fool you from thinking it will not still hold up to it's name. They still can hold their own. EBJD's, as some people abbreviate, are not easy to breed because the Blue fry are very weak and susceptible to diseases, especially early on in their life. Much care must be taken when young to ensure their survival and health. It is also difficult because in order to produce blue fry you must first cross a normal Jack Dempsey with an EBJD and then breed the fry, who are Blue Gene carriers, back with an EBJD to produce Electric Blue fry. Two EBJD's bred together will produce extremely weak fry who will die once hatched in a very short time. To ensure a stronger strain, it is suggested that you breed the first batch of Blue Gene carrier fry with an EBJD other than the parent to prevent inbreeding problems.

With all of that being said, I have found this to be one of, if not, my favorite fish to keep in the hobby because of it's brilliant colors and rarity. Please do note that if you plan on keeping one, I've found that it is best to keep your EBJD with the opposite sex normal Jack Dempsey or with another Electric Blue of the same size to keep them from hiding all the time. Mine was very shy until I introduced her to a mate. Now she roams the whole tank most of the day and is much more active. Enjoy!

Very nice American cichlids

Good info too.

Thanks!

Nice female

I had no idea it was female until I vented her when I brought some potential mates home for "him". Luckily I brought one male and one female normal Jack. She is now paired up with the male and has laid eggs once already. Only problem is she got so mean she wouldn't let the male fertilize the eggs that time around! lol

How old is your? He has a good head little to no beak very nice. Here is mine I just love him he is so spunky.

I bought a nice small male much like yours but he just passed over my vacation from an unknown cause. I'm really upset at the moment. I might have to replace him soon.

heres a pic of mine i bought two of them pretty expensive
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I love these guys, I had one but my red tail cat ate it!

i want one. how much are those beasts?

usually expensive fish at the LFS