Jack Dempsey

[N8DOGG]

Why does my jack turn black and then back to his normal color, I've had him since he was 1/2" and he goes through this color changing cycle. Is this nomal? Is this from stress?

[Oscar_Mania]

It's pretty normal. A stressed JD would be very light in colour and many of the markings would not show very well. My JD goes dark when my Oscar gets too close to his territorial cave. Colour change indicates the mood of the JD.

[N8DOGG]

so is my JD over stressed. He does live with 2 midas and an oscar and Green terror. Also he has never been light in color. He's almost jet black. What can I do to help him out, besides getting a larger tank, which I plan on? More hidding areas? the one midas keeps every one away from his cave
N8

[LongTime]

There is an exception for every rule, but I would say your JD is fine. Often the dominant fish has the most vivid color. It is part mating, threat and bravado displaying. One of my JD is the least dominant fish in the tank and his color is quite light. He gets a little darker right before he sneaks up on the dominant JD and hits him from behind. Then he gets lighter and runs like...

The dominant JD is very dark with great color, until it is threatened by the Texas at which time he lightens up.

[N8DOGG]

My JD hold his own and I don't even think the midas pays him much attention, so on the other hand the black color means he's a dominant fish? He was the first one in the tank, shortly followed by the Green terror. Thanks for all of the replies. N8

[LongTime]

He is at least the dominant JD if he is the only JD in the tank! :)

On a one-on-one my Texas cichlid is the dominant fish in my 125. Everyone stays out of her way except for the convicts who are a pair. They only attack her when they are together. If one convict finds out the other isn't going along, he/she heads for the hills.

When the Texas is not close by and threatening, the dominant JD just struts his stuff. His color is very dark and you can see all of his little "jewels." When the Texas shows up his color weakens in direct proportion to her level of threat.

The less dominant JD never gets that dark unless he is being sneaky. He does get a little darker when he has the Texas between him and the other JD because she just ignores him and she behaves as if any threat from the more dominant JD is directed at her.

[daveedka]

Pretty accurate replies, your JD is probably fine IMO. All of my cichlids get darker when they are being wicked. My Jd was very near black when I bought him, I purposefully chase him as a dominate fish in a tank of 60. He colors up whenever approached and turns black when offended. By the same token when the pleco runs him off he pales a bit. If I take photo's every 10 minutes for an hour, my fish will be at least 4 different colors in the 6 photo's. One of my favorite things about a JD. If he gets Pale and timid for any extended period you may have cause for concern though
Dave

[N8DOGG]

thanks for all of the input, I don't think he's ever been pale but I'll make sure that I do watch for it. I love watching all of my fish when I get home after work.

[killerfishes]

ya very percise replies but im am a little supised that ur midas dident beat up ur oscar... i had an oscar wit a midas(the midas was half the size of the oscar) and the midas tore the oscar apart it was pretty shocking :0

[N8DOGG]

I had a oscar and midas together for 4+ years and they got along fine. I gave them away when I moved. My one midas does run everyone off away from its cave but it leaves the oscar alone.