could a JD be kept in a 46 gallon?

[dolphinstj]

It's almost my B-day and Ihave a 46 gallon bow front picked out at petsmart. Could I have a JD in it? If not are their any other single cichlids that would. texas, GT, or any others?

 

[David]

Yes, I think it can. But why get a bowfront for a JD tank? Bowfronts are really meant for peaceful community aquariums. IMO it looks wrong when you have a large aggressive cichlid in a tank that has a curved front.

 

[juanveldez]

like David said yes a JD can be kept in a 46.

 

[dolphinstj]

OK, I have changed my mind on the 46. I can get a 55 gallon and stand about 100 bucks cheaper. Plus more room is always good right? Anyways, with a JD in the tank, what else can go with it? Any other Cihlids or should I go with a big school of dithers? Maybe nothing else, I dont know but there is no such thing as a stupid question. Also, fo another tank, do you think I could get away with mixing two gouramis that get 4 inches with a convict cichlid or Blood parrot cichlid? Thanks again.

 

[juanveldez]

there are lots of options avalible, either you can get a small pair of jds or you could go the con route but I would still go with the JDs if you do only get one JD get a male and a divider just in case, my 55 is perminatly divided for 2 reasons one my male doesn't like my GT on his part of the tank, even though my GT is a female and he has taken a shine to her I keep them divded cause I don't want them to breed.

 

[dolphinstj]

Is there anyway to tell sex in JD's that are about 2"? Two would fit in there alright? I see you have yours in with a GT and am interested in that setup, I am going to research the GT now. Let's say I got 2 JD's, would it be alright to put about 15 hatchetfish in with them? I know they will probably be food after a while but I have wanted some for a while and I want to use dithers until the JD's grow up a little. What ya think?

The cons question was for my 20 gallon now. I have a gold gourami in there who has killed my rainbow shark and is about to kill my paradise blue gourami. He has driven them both into hiding and they wont come out to eat. (Past tense for the shark). Could a single Con be ok in that tank or will he most likely kill the gourami?

 

[juanveldez]

yes JDs are pretty easy to sex at a small size, if you go and look at their cheeks, a female will look like there is a ton on blue there and just smeared all over, then a male will not have as much on their cheeks and more on their body. I can post a pic of my 8.5 inch male for you if you like. I do have a Gold Saum in my 55 with him and she was bought as a friend to help him feel more friendly.

there are differences between gold/silver suams and actual GTs. the actual GT until july hasn't been in the hobbiest trade for many many years so the gold/silver suams have been sold as GTs as they are considered at this time to be a regional variant of the green terrors though some see them as a totally different species. if you look closely at the two you will see that the Suams exhibit the reverse coloration between the scales as apposed to the actual GT. if there is anything else I can help you with feel free to ask.

 

[once i was a maggot]

whats a JD? lol

 

[David]

whats a JD? lol

JD=Jack dempsey. Large cichlid that comes in a variety of colours and can grow to about 10".

 

[juanveldez]

well they are more along the lines of a medium cichlid but given proper diet and enough room david is right the potential for them to get to 10 inches is there it is just going to take forever. once they hit about 7 inches their growth is dramatically decreased.

 

[Gren]

the dempsy i have in a 55 gallon is living with an RD and they get along just fine (tho i've been told the RD will kick the crap out of the JD latter) but if a JD can live in peace with that stomace with fins than they should be able to get along just about anywhere, just make sure you've got enough gravle because my JD at least loves to dig.

 

[juanveldez]

lol yeah the RD will end up kicking the snot out of the JD eventually

 

[mwm]

weird this came up at my LFS they have a breeding JD pair male is like 6-8 inches female is like 5-7 inches. I can get them for only $20!!! they are so nice i just need to FIND a tank and im set! i got the funds and everything its just the tank hunting isnt going to good

 

[dolphinstj]

OK, got the tank all set-up. It is cycling now. Lots of rock and a couple of caves and plenty of room to move around. I am still unsure of the fish I want to put in it though. So many choices??? How does this sound as a sample to start my selection process.

2- JD's They will be about 3 inches. Trying to get a pair.
3- silver dollers
10- hachetfish I'm not sure what kind but their silver and grow 2" says Petsmart
1- pleco who is 6 inches now (coming from my 35)

Just a starting point for me, give me what ya think. And many many THANK YOU's for your help already.

 

[juanveldez]

sounds good just make sure that there are no gaps in the top of the tank cause the hatchets will take flight, they are leapers and wouldn't last very long once the JDs get big and nasty.