green terror & blue jack dempsey?

[Pallen81]

I am thinking of getting a Green Terror and Blue Jack Dempsey for my 55 gallon tank. They would be joining a tank with 2 full grown Silver Dollars. I also plan on getting some sort of pleco eventually as well. The tank has plenty of hiding spots and I do 2-3 water changes a week. Does anyone think this combination of fish would be a problem or should I be fine? I know with cichlids its can be unpredictable. :read:

[johaniimaster27]

if the green terror JD and plecos are also fully grown this will be way to over crowded.

[MacFish]

If you are going to do it, I would make sure the BJD is larger than the GT. Also put the BJD in first and let it establish it's territory for a while. If you add them at the same time or the GT first, I think your BJD would be a sitting duck. GT's are much more aggressive.

[johaniimaster27]

this is very true but if u use a regular JD it may be able to hold its own against the Green Terror because it is much more aggressive than the blue JD. and in my opinion the BJD doesnt look all that special either.

[Pallen81]

the cichlids would all be 1-2.5 inches long when bought... maybe it would be better to get a firemouth or red devil instead of the blue dempsey because of the aggression factor... to be honest I want the blue dempsey more then the green terror if I have to choose. They look freakin awesome.

[johaniimaster27]

ok well i hope i helped. the red devil would do well with a green terror the only thing is what r u goin to do with them when they get to be too big???

[Pallen81]

You did help! Thanks. I was under the impression that 5 fish (even when full grown) in my 55 gallon would be within the limits. Is there something I don't know. I see other people with way more cichlids in 55 gal tanks and I thought I was being safe with only 2 cichlids??

[johaniimaster27]

well it depends on the size of the fish. JDs grow to be around 10 inches long. GTs grow to be 8 inches long. and some plecos grow to 28 INCHES

[Pallen81]

good point. I'll make sure I get a pleco that doesn't get too big. I don't want a big one anyway. Maybe I won't even get one... I'm so indecisive.

I've read that Blue Dempseys only get to about 5 or 6 inches. There are so many cichlids to choose from! I just want to have a few cool looking fish but most importantly I want them to be able to live comfortably with each other.

Any other cichlids that would do well with a blue dempsey?

[jagarundi]

Any other cichlids that would do well with a blue dempsey?

Oscars do well with JD's. I only see JD's being aggresive with non-aggresive fish. If the other fish can hold their own, you'll be ok. You mentioned something about getting a Red devil? You haven't SEEN aggressive until you get a Red Devil. Choose carefully.

[johaniimaster27]

these all would most likely kill the Silver dollars that r in there. even the BJDs are much more aggressive than the Silver dollars.

[Pallen81]

I have thought about that alot.

The Silver Dollars are over 4 years old and 5 inches in diameter. They have lived with Shovelnoses, Striped Pike Characins, and an Arrowana during their lifespan. They did fine with all those other fish, however I take it that none of those fish were territorial like the cichlids are.

I read on timstropicals.com that Jack Dempseys and Green Terrors were compatible with Silver Dollars... guess it depends on the tank size and fish size.

You really think BJDs would attack/harrass the Silver Dollars?

[johaniimaster27]

i dont know too much about silver dollars but i know that they are considered peacefull but the BJD is considered semi-aggressive and The GT is very aggressive.

[Pallen81]

The Silver Dollars are def peaceful. They don't do anything aggressive (except when I feed them they go nuts - still not aggressive), but they are hella fast and kept away from other fish easily when I actually had other fish. hehe. These two Silvers are super troopers. They've lived through 3 moves to different houses and a few (i hate to say) disease outbreaks.

I am willing to go with the Blue Dempseys and the Silver Dollars together, but I am thinking the Terrors, Devils, etc may be excessive and problomatic. I think an Oscar would probably kick the Silver Dollars asses too.

I wish I could find a cichlid that is compatible with blue dempseys and is also only semi aggressive?!

[MacFish]

I think your EBJD will be fine with the Silver Dollars since they are already in there and the EBJD will grow up with them. If it was the EBJD's tank and you added the SD's to it, it might not work. I don't think they are good with any other aggressive (even slightly aggressive) cichlids.

I had my 4" EBJD in my 65 Gal tank very briefly with a pair of 2" Honduran Red Points. The HRP's laid a major beating on my Jack. He/she (still trying to figure that out) is extremely laid back and nothing like any regular Jack D I've had in the past. He is currently in that tank with a few Thorichthys Maculipinnis I'm growing out. They seem to leave each other alone but the biggest T. Mac's is only 2.5" at the most.

I would strongly advise you don't put anything like a GT, RD or Oscar with it.
Firstly, a 55 Gal is way too small for an Oscar or RD in my opinion.

If anything, I'd put a pair of EBJD's or 1 EBJD and another small CA cichlid. A single Cryptoheros or Thorichthys would be okay. Just not sure about a breeding pair. They might be too rough.


and in my opinion the BJD doesnt look all that special either.

To each his or her own but I don't understand how anyone can not find this "special"

http://gtaaquaria.com/gallery/data/500/medium/Blue_Jack_7_web.jpg

[johaniimaster27]

I dont know too much about BJDs but i figured that they were just slightly less aggressive than my JDs were. the JDs were very aggressive and they would take on fish 2 and three times their size.

[Rowangel]

Gorgeous MacFish. Had I the room (and the money) for another tank that is what I would get. JD are beautiful fish, intelligent too as I have been told.

[Pallen81]

Thanks for the great advice. That fish looks sweet!

I think i'm narrowing my search down to this:

1 Firemouth
AND
1 or 2 Electric Blue Jack Dempseys.

Does that sound good? one or two EBJDs?

[johaniimaster27]

yeah if u are sure that it wont kill ur SDs

[Pallen81]

I guess I can't ever really be sure...

but I think I will go for it. Thanks for all the help everyone.

[MacFish]

I think you will be fine but I would go with either 2 x EBJD or 1 EBJD & 1 FM. I have no experience with Firemouth's but I've read they are mainly all talk. They flare and charge but rarely do damage. That said, since the EBJD is looking like the "main attraction" and is MUCH more expensive than the firemouth, I would get it first. Once the EBJD grows 2" - 2.5", get a small firemouth.

[Pallen81]

Good call. Duely noted. I think I'll do it that way. give the EBJD the upper hand hopefully. THANKS AGAIN.