Jack Dempsey questions

First topic message reminder :

I just got 3 Jack Dempseys from the lfs.

They are small. About 2 inches in size.

I paid $3 a piece.

I bought 3 because I am hoping they will pair up at some point in time, and then I can just take the oddball out and get it a partner or return it to the store.

How long until they pair up?
And can I keep 2 pairs of Jack Demseys in the same tank?

Cajun you never disagree. How was Fat Tuesday/

any updates what did you do

I decided just to stick with the small ones.

I really like my clown loaches, and I don't want to risk them getting eaten.

I can always get them and put them in another tank though, so I will be going to the pet store tomorrow to check out the fish, and I will decide then.

Keep us posted:)

I got a pair out of 3 fish. I bought 3 blue acaras and they were 2" when I got them paired up in a month started spawning after another month at 2.5" . But these fish are like convicts in how they spawn all the time. My pair was not strong they would always then on eachother after the eggs hatched. Maybe if I gave the fish more choice to mates I would have had a strong pair.

Sexing jd at 3" or larger is not hard. Females have blue patches on the gill plates males will have little to no blue and only specks on the gill plates.

They should spawn at 4" given good conditions.

Do not keep 2 pairs of jd in a tank unless it's big and you split it up. They will fight to no end.

It all depends on the fish you should pair up in a few months but it could take longer. You need to know what to look for.

The jd is easy to breed it not picky about water conduction. Your loach will be fine for now but once they are 5-6" they might become snacks. Do not keep a loach in a JD breeding tank.

Good luck. Hope you get a pair and not all males. Why did you post this in the African cichlid part? It's an American cichlid.

I had read in several places that they were African. Woops.

I have actually decided to give them away to someone, as I ended up getting a free 10'' Male JD, and I then bought a 6'' female, and they have already spawned. No survivors because she kept freaking out and they would get kicked up and then sucked into the filters, but I have since added more spaces to hide, so all is well.

wow paired already lucky guy good job they breed alot so good luck atleast you know they will breed again

lucky guy???
who the fish or mshill90?
think "HES" a SHE!! lol

alkomist wrote:

lucky guy???
who the fish or mshill90?
think "HES" a SHE!! lol

i meant her funny alkomist good one

Haha... yepp. Def a she the last time I checked. haha

I have been wanting to start a breeding program once I get the monster tank down stairs emptied and moved to the other side of the room, because I am going to school to be a vet, and I want to specialize in fish.

So, I was super excited when they bred.. but I am now more prepared for when it happens again.

I even got some free schooling today when I took my rescue pup in to get spayed. I got to watch her get spayed, a cat get spayed, 2 cats get neutered, and a rabbit get neutered. It was crazy! Can't wait to go back and watch some more. :)

nice and sorry good luck with the vet park takes dedication 8 years thats why i didnt continue

I'm in it for the animals, so I don't care if it takes 20 years.

I will open my own clinic and do nothing but low cost.. too many people can't afford vetting.

u watched all that??? lol KRAZY!!!! any blood? lol

alkomist wrote:

u watched all that??? lol KRAZY!!!! any blood? lol

Yeah. she even asked if I wanted to learn how to neuter a cat, since I am in proctor stage of my schooling. I passed at the chance, but it seemed easy. No stitching involved.

There wasn't that much blood honestly. I thought it would be a lot worse... You get more blood from stepping on a nail.

I've assisted with most of that, you get used to it.
Wait till you get to help remove a tumor, those look so strange, almost like mashed potatoes.

Blehg!!!!!!

Fern wrote:

I've assisted with most of that, you get used to it.
Wait till you get to help remove a tumor, those look so strange, almost like mashed potatoes.

Yumm can't wait. lol.

The only thing I have NEVER done is operate on an animal.

I have drained tumors/cysts etc, drawn blood etc etc...

I don't have the money to take 5-6-7+ dogs to the vet, so I depend on learning things on my own, as well as knowing local vets who help support my rescue.

I am very familiar with draining cysts on dogs, my shistzu gets them quite often.

I did all that doing community service at a vets. I ended up being the everything helper, it also helped that most dogs love me. We got this one great dane in one time and she would only listen to me and tried to bite everyone else.

My pup has a ceratoma once, and the vet wanted like $400+ to drain it with JUST a syringe.

I said F that. I went to tractor supply, bought some syringes and did it myself, and he's as good as new.

I really hate when vets act like you don't know how to do anything with a pet because you aren't trained to do it.

I had to get one cut off her once and the vet said drain them well when they are small and you wont be back here. She was a cool vet, back when I had a Rhodesian ridge back she would keep him in her office instead of putting him in the back when we needed something done with him. Most people wouldn't trust a 185lb dog in their office

Fern wrote:

I had to get one cut off her once and the vet said drain them well when they are small and you wont be back here. She was a cool vet, back when I had a Rhodesian ridge back she would keep him in her office instead of putting him in the back when we needed something done with him. Most people wouldn't trust a 185lb dog in their office

185 lbs? Your Rhodesian was overweight by about 100 lbs. Males are 85-90 lbs, and females are smaller.

I have pretty much said screw the vets. And when I have a problem I have people I can get info from, and they can tell me what I need to know. Plus, it's nice to have a vet in the family... And what's even better is they're an exotic vet! :) But in NC..

alkomist wrote:

But it's my thread, and I said it's ok. haha.

lol
i couldnt help it though!

He was a ridge back with the height of a great dane..and a big barrel chest.. He was a big boy! Not just overweight (he was a little) But he was very very big boned. He came from show parents and he wasn't show quality because of his size and his uneven socks.
I loved it when he would bark the windows would shake.

Any pics of your Jacks? I am trying to get some of mine to breed. I've found that if I try to do anything in the tank that they eat the eggs and then the pair splits up somehow. It's really weird. I'm going to try again here soon with all juvies.