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?

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.

Here are my Jacks... The Male is missing some finnage, as he was rescued from a LFS. NEVER put a jack in with a 12+ inch pacu!

As far as my Juveniles... 2 stay dark, and one is always light.. The light one which I am suspecting is a female has been parting ways with the other 2 lately, so who knows what that means. I def know they are too small to spawn yet.

Here is the Female at about 6 inches...


Here is the male at a little over 10 inches... This is when I first put him in the tank, so he's a little colorless...


Then now...

I have some more parents coming to my tanks soon and I'm excited! Once the male grows his fins back you will have a great looking pair! Nice!

nice

CSnyder00 wrote:

I have some more parents coming to my tanks soon and I'm excited! Once the male grows his fins back you will have a great looking pair! Nice!

I don't think his fins will grow back. Was told it's been like that for years...

Huh. I've always had good luck growing fins, but maybe they won't. I hope they do for you.

Do you have any suggestions on how to get them to grow back?

The person I got him from saved him, and the guy has had him for a few years, and they never grew back. His pec (side?) fins did grow back together since I've had him.

wow guy looks pretty thrashed!

I call him Hagrid. :)

hahahah nice name:)

You can try treating with Melafix. I doubt you even need too though. Most of mine grew back with weekly water changes and good nutrition. A lot of the times they are torn because of the decor in the tank or they were scrapping, but my bet is that he was rubbing on something. Keep feeding him well and do weekly water changes and keep any decor out of the tank he can get his fins caught up in and they should grow back.

CSnyder00 wrote:

You can try treating with Melafix. I doubt you even need too though. Most of mine grew back with weekly water changes and good nutrition. A lot of the times they are torn because of the decor in the tank or they were scrapping, but my bet is that he was rubbing on something. Keep feeding him well and do weekly water changes and keep any decor out of the tank he can get his fins caught up in and they should grow back.

The person that had him before me had him in a tank with just a terra cotta pot. Had him in there for a while and it didn't grow back.

I am not really concerned if it doesn't grow back. I like this the way he is. Just thought if I could do something to make it grow back I would. We'll just wait and see.