Jack Dempsey fading color

[jcwhitl3]

I have a female(?) jack dempsey in a 30 gallon tank. It is probably about 2 inches long. I plan to upgrade the tank in the near future. How long does it take the jacks to reach full adult size?
Along with the dempsey is an female african cichlid. Which has recently decided to chase the dempsey all the time. For the last couple of days the dempsey has been completely black, its spots are no longer visible. I am considering getting rid of the african hoping this will help. I don't want another cichlid but am interested in buying dither fish any suggestions.

 

[ashdavid]

I have a female(?) jack dempsey in a 30 gallon tank. It is probably about 2 inches long. I plan to upgrade the tank in the near future. How long does it take the jacks to reach full adult size?
Along with the dempsey is an female african cichlid. Which has recently decided to chase the dempsey all the time. For the last couple of days the dempsey has been completely black, its spots are no longer visible. I am considering getting rid of the african hoping this will help. I don't want another cichlid but am interested in buying dither fish any suggestions.

If it is indeed an african I would get rid of it if you want to keep the JD. There is a good likelyhood that the african will need different water parameters. What kind of african is it? As for your JD lossing its color, don't worry a fish's color tends to fade or look faded when scared , stressed or light conditions change, it will come back to normal when it dose not feel threatened.

 

[jcwhitl3]

Well she is really bright orange. Possibly the red zebra. The store where she was purchased did not specify the different species of aficans in there tank. I have had her for about seven months. Since end of March she has laid eggs three times. However, now there is no male to fertilze.