Dempsey pair tankmates

[thehazben]

im looking for tankmates for a pair of jack dempseys there about 3.5-4 inches for the female and 4.5-5 inch male. Im moving them to a 55 gal by themselves. I wanted to know if i could get away with a catfish of some kind or pleco.

filtration is going to be a biowheel 400 or cansiter filter.

[mark razmandi]

any pleco or catfish (for the most part) should be fine...the JDs can become very aggressive as they get bigger however....someone correct me if im wrong

[thehazben]

also what other ca/sa cichlids could i put with them in either the 55 or a 75 it just seems bare with 2 fish that enjoy caves all day.

[mark razmandi]

also what other ca/sa cichlids could i put with them in either the 55 or a 75 it just seems bare with 2 fish that enjoy caves all day.

with that size tank, not much

[TaTeR ToT]

actually, jack dempseys get mellow with age and size.

they calm down ALOT when they get bigger.

once they hit ~8-9", they become passive, and will usually only fight when threatened or are attacked first.

however, when younger they are more like a green terror.

also, male dempseys are one of the few ca cichlids that dont mind other males of there sp.

however, if you have a pair, then very few if any other cichlids will be tolerated in the same tank.
unless you get them in a 6ft+ tank, then i wouldnt add anything else.

[cichlid1409]

add about 2 dozen feeder goldfish as 'tankmates'

a pleco or catfish should do fine and be left alone for the most part, as long as they are too big to be swallowed.

[paranoid1123]

You should get some EBJD. They would make great tankmates.

[stevenallenbarnard]

You should get some EBJD. They would make great tankmates.

Yeah...NO

EBJD's are even more passive than regs and they cost more.

If your purpose is to breed the dempseys then stay away from plecos. they will eat the eggs at night when the jacks are sleeping. (then again so will most catfish.) get some clown loaches or synodontis eupterus. at least they are out and about more than plecs and you will enjoy them more