Inactive JDs

Hawkman2000

Hawkman2000

Members
OK, I have had these 3 jack Dempsey for 3.4 years. I have moved their tank 4 times, and they always stayed active and colorful.

months ago I got a 46 bow front for free and gave them a really nice new home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=386nrevSffY

Ever since I moved them, the just hide. I don't even see them eat. :unsure:

No signs of illness, just loss of color and activity.

Ph = 7.0
GH = 125
Ammonia almost 0
All parameters are great.

Food = Hikari - Cichlid Staple Mini, Cichlid Bio-gold Medium, Cichlid Gold Large, P.E. Mysis Shrimp, and the occasional diced cucumber or zucchini.

Additives = Seachem Prime, Stability, Neutral Regulator, And Seachem American Cichlid Salt.

I put the additives in buckets of water for water changes, and use spare heaters to heat them up before changing water. Then I use the stability in the tank.

The water I crystal clear.

Getting very frustrated.:confused:
 
Tony

Tony

Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
Looks like a nice setup. :)

Any different tank decor or was it all transferred to the 46? Were there tankmates that used to act as dither fish that are no longer in with them?
 
Hawkman2000

Hawkman2000

Members
Some of the decor is new. The tile backdrop is new. Made that myself. It was a pain, but worth it. The wood and plant has been with them from the begining.

Also, I forgot the mension a very important thing. There are two males and one female. One of the males was just added a month ago. The other male and female had mated twice in their previous tank. I added the new JD not Only because I got a good deal on him (5$ at 8"). I was thinking adding a dither would increase activity. At first it did. The two males had a good 20 minute fight, the female watched with interest, and then they all just went into hiding.
 
verbal

verbal

CCA Members
It might be that a lot of the activity/coloring you were seeing was courting activity. It may be that neither male has a big enough territory for courting.

Usually dithers are a non-cichlid species that is big enough to avoid being eaten and fast enough to avoid serious harassment.
 
Avatar

Avatar

Plenipotentiary-at-large
+1 - Something small that they can mildly terrorize that causes them to remember/resemble their namesake.
 
Hawkman2000

Hawkman2000

Members
I guess I have a JD for sale.

I have four HRP's in smaller tank that are only 1.5" - 2" right now, I guess I cal add 2 of them later, when they are big ehough to defend themselves.

Or, this guy I know has a salvini he might let me have.

Maybe 2 JD's, 1 salvini, and 2 HRP's.
 
jonclark96

jonclark96

Past CCA President
Personally I would go for non-cichlids to try and get them to be more active. You could get some giant danios or bigger tetras to get them to come out.
 
Hawkman2000

Hawkman2000

Members
I think I might get rid of my origianal jd. I have had him for about 2.5 years. got him when he was 2". The female is prob his sister so getting rid of him and letting the female mate with the new one would be better.

Another question, is it possible to tell is a male jd has the ebjd gene.
 
MonteSS

MonteSS

Members
If you had a 75g I would say go for it. But in a 36" 46g a JD pair is max.

I have a full grown Nic pair in a 46g bow, but they are very bonded and gentle towards other fish. With them are 8 Buenos Aires Tetras. I added a small 2" con the other day that they ignore.

.....Bill
 
Avatar

Avatar

Plenipotentiary-at-large
Have any plants in there with them? Water sprite probably grows faster than they can tear it up if not, might give them a greater sense of security, especially if you put it between them and the main approach to the tank.
 
F

flippercon

Members
The only way to tell if jd has the blue gene is to pair and spawn it with either a female ebjd/bgjd. Female ebjd seem to be inert egg layers but I have seen someone successfully spawn a female ebjd. If you were to spawn it wit a female ebjd and your male jd had the blue gene you would yield 50/50 on the fry.
 
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