Please ID?

[ritchiek]

We purchased this guy from our local pet store a few years back. We bought a group of fish we thought were convict cichlids. We know one of these is certainly different looking. It is probably about 5" long. I was wondering if anyone could id it for us, and possibly any tank mate recommendations. Thanks.

 

[MaloK]

That's a beautiful Jack Dempsey you got there !

 

[ritchiek]

Thank you!

 

[Colin_T]

If it's a Jack Dempsey cichlid, they grow to 10-12 inches and kill anything in the tank with them.

The fish shouldn't be sitting on the bottom either. Check the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH.

Do a big water change if you haven't done one in the last few days.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

 

[MaloK]

idem... Check the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH.

General look of the tank should be darker with drift wood and swampy area, they like rich vegetation a slightly alkaline water with lots of bottom sediment.

A substrate like Mud or light sand is best... They live in murky water and they love it...

For the tank mate aspect, If he is been along "solo" for a while... Be prepared to have anything added to the tank "ejected" on sight.

 

[anewbie]

Tank looks (way) too small for the fish and the hard decoration might leave to the fish hurting itself.