OLD JACK DEMPSEY questions

midnightmadman

midnightmadman

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Dec 21, 2005
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My Jack is about 7-8 years old now. I have had him since he was 1"
My question is about his health. For the last 6 months or so he has been very inactive. He just sits in the corner of the tank and he keeps his mouth open and gasps. I feel terrible for him. Even when I feed him he doesnt act like he used to. He always would come swimming up happy and get the pellets. He is in a 65 gallon that is 36x24x18 so he has a decent amount of room.
What should I do. Is he on his way out?
Please help.
Thanks
 
keep the water clean...and go as normal.

how varied is the diet?
 
Hes been on Hikari gold for almost his whole life.
Water parameters are good. But nitrates are a little high.
 
try varying the diet a bit..I never suggest live foods but for large cichlids worms are a great choice.
you can chop them up I usually prefer red worms ..if you have mulch piles at home you will find them there. clean them out and feed them.

easy work to raise on a closed tank.(wood box).
 
First let me commend you on having the same fish for eight years. It definitely says you have been taking good care of him. While captive dempseys have been known to live into their teens, your's could be considered as an elderly fish. Its not surprising that he's becoming less active and more sedate. As star_rider said, keep the water quality good, and keep doing whatever you've been doing, and you may have him around for several more years.

Good Luck,
Mark
 
good job at keeping him alive this long... your doing something right... but your jack is probley tried of the same old food try some of the other diets listed above...
 
Thanks guys.
He has been with me through a lot. He was bought in Boston, MA
He lived with me there from 1" - about 4" for 2 years and he lived in a 30 gallon. He moved from one apartment to another. Then he came with me to NY. He went from the 30 to a 90 when he was about 6" and about 4 years old. Then he was moved again last year from that house to the house I am currently in. At that point, last year he was about 10" but I had to move him to the 65.
He still has plenty of room in that tank becuase it has the 18" width , same as the 90. I was going to sell him about 3 times over the last few years but could never bring myself to do it.
I was always worried that someone would stick him in a tiny 10 gallon tank or something. I even was going to sell them tank with him, but I was still concerned the same thing could still happen....so here he is, about 8 years old with me still!
 
midnightmadman said:
What do you mean (clean them out?)
Click to expand...

usually pace them in a controlled container..they will eat what you put in the tank and they clean out.
then when preparing them you have a 'clean' source.
you can use worm bedding etc.

I usually lightly squeeze the poo out of the worms.. ;)
thier poo is great for the garden BTW.

I try to encourage red worms in the garden no use of pesticides or ferts.

just mulch.
 
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