Dempseys breeding?

[Tinycl]

About 6 months ago,I bought 4 two inch JD juviniles,and now I have a 4 inch male,3 1/4 inch female,3 1/4 inch male,and 3 inch female.Right now the two biggest dempsey's are acting like they are trying to breed. :D

I was wondering if they are mature/big enough to breed.I have heard that they have to be at least 4 inches long to breed.Have been to several different web sites and I keep getting different imformation from them all.

As you can tell,I'm a newbie and any imformation would be very helpful at this point.I think these are awsome fish and would like to have little fry,but have never bred anything other than guppies till now.

Thanks in advance for any imformation.

[aquatrippe]

Much depends on the conditioning of the fish as to how quickly they mature.

I would guess that a 6 month old dempsey regardless of its size is probably sexually mature. Unless the fish has been stunted by poor conditions, it should be good to go by that age.

If you notice a pair distinguishing themselves from the others, digging, jaw locking, chasing other fish away.. etc.. then it would probably be wise to give them their own space as soon as is convenient.

There is no rush unless the attacks on the unpaired fish are growing dangerous and they are damaging them. Even if you loose the first spawn..dont worry there will be another one soon enough and you can get them into their own space.

I only had Dempseys once [in a 20 gallon..which was too small for them at max size] and they were VERY prolific once they got going.. they ate the first few clutches of eggs.. as do many young cichlids..then they ate the fry a few times..but after they settled down they were devoted and vigilant parents.

One word of advice..try to check out interest in the local fish stores beforehand to see if they will take the young dempsesy off your hands...

It will be fun to watch them.. they are great fish..

[Tinycl]

Thanks for the info.These Dempsey's fascinate me more and more every day.Wish I could find some place in my area to get some Blue Dempseys but the lfs in my area haven't even heard of them and it makes me feel very stupid asking them.

[GEV83]

From what I hear Blue Jack Dempseys cant breed it would have to be a normal JD with a Blue JD. Just a little info just incase you wanted to breed 2 Blue JD together. I personally dont care for JD's the only one I actually like is the second pic I have posted.

Blue Jack Dempsey With RTC
http://www.aquamojo.com/redtail/juvenile%20redtail%20and%20dempsey2.jpg
Copyright of Aquamojo.com
Normal Jack Dempsey
http://www.aquamojo.com/dempsey/JDempsey2.JPG
Copyright of Aquamojo.com

[Tinycl]

How do they get such good pics?I always have to use the flash or the pics are too dark.:confused:

[GEV83]

I have no Idea I asked mojo once but it was like he was talking chinese.