blue demphsey cichlid

how big are these dempsey's? JD's will eat most of the fish you listed once they are full grown. They should eat prettymuch any food you give them so for now you're good but I'd be planning to put them somewhere else before they grow. they should reach 8-10". It's not really the aggressive that's the problem, it's the foodchain.

I not only see a problem with the JD's in your tank, but also with the rainbows. They are a schooling fish that prefer to be kept in a group of 6, and you should really try to get one type. I would decide on one type of rainbowfish, get 6 of them, and return the dempseys to the store. But, hey, that's just my opinion.

snakeskinner said:

how big are these dempsey's? JD's will eat most of the fish you listed once they are full grown. They should eat prettymuch any food you give them so for now you're good but I'd be planning to put them somewhere else before they grow. they should reach 8-10". It's not really the aggressive that's the problem, it's the foodchain.

Click to expand...

My first thought was right there with snakeskinner--Dempseys are NOT
less aggressive cichlids (named after Jack Dempsey, a killer boxer). I've
seen them, and cute little Oscars at the lfs--at 2-3 inches, they're neat
looking and seem harmless. Just wait . . . . *playover theme to Jaws*
they'll clean out your tank and ask for more!!! Research your fish!!
I did, and am developing a much less agressive Malawi Lake cichlid
environment. Also, Dempseys get pretty big. . . I saw a juvie at 8/9
inches.

I replied in your other thread - ( don't post in mulitple forums - very annoying )
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73447

He is right, Blue Dempsey's are much more peaceful than regular dempsey's on average. You could, however, end up with a nasty Blue. If so, your barbs will be gone. Since the Blue's typically don't get as large either, the rainbows will get big enough not to be lunch but take SF's advice about them with regards to schooling.

Long term, I don't think your tank is big enough for all your fish. 69 gal is fine for a pair of Blue Dempsey's as long as you do regular water changes. If you want to keep the rainbows as well, you will have to do more water changes.

My electric blue is much, much less aggressive than any regular JDs that I've kept. In fact, it's currently residing in my only peaceful non-species tank with fishes that it cannot swallow.

I don't think dempsey's are super aggressive like maybe a jaguar, wolf cichlid or a jewel cichlid. However, almost any fish, especially a cichlid such as a JD, will eat any fish that will fit in it's mouth. It's not a question of aggressive, it's a question of food chain and the JD will be on the top in that tank...

I have heard of docile dempsey's and terrors. They are commonly kept with Oscars, red devil's, midas, etc. Mostly the larger central and north american's as well as the typical pacu, tinfoil barbs and pleco's that you always see traded in to the LFS because they grew much larger than the 2" variant that was purchased.

As for Rosita's "less aggressive malawi cichlid tank" do you mean less aggressive for malawi's or are you saying malawi's are less aggressive in comparison? Many of the malawi's can be out right nasty. I've had many, many fellow clubmembers with a single mbuna turn and kill it's whole tankfull of mates and these were not rookie fish keepers. One of the reasons people generally overstock a malawi tank is due to aggression so don't think the pretty colors and smaller sizes mean less problems.