Jaguars

PumaWard

PumaWard

In loving memory of Meeko
Jul 23, 2003
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My brother and I cleared out most of our old fish in our 75 gallon and decided to go with C.A. cichlids. Right now, we have two female convicts (one will be traded in for a male), and we have about a 4 inch juvenile Jaguar cichlid. I believe that it is a male, but I am not 100% sure.

Anyway, I have done much research (before and after purchase) on the jaguar, and no 2 websites say the same thing as far as their maximum size for the fish and minimum tank size so I was hoping some of you might be able to enlighten me. I plan on only having him and 2 convicts, will he be happy in my tank when an adult?

Thanks :)
 
I think a 75 would be good for him. I would more concerned about the convicts once he gets bigger though.
He will get more aggressive and he will get more territorial. Personally, I wouldn't put any other fish with a Jaguar.

I had two green terrros with ours and had to remove them, he was keeping them in a corner and looked like he was trying to bury them alive. Any time they moved, he got right on them and put them back in the corner. Then he would pick up some rocks and drop them on the terrors.

Mean fishie!
 
If it is a male and the conditions in your tank are good ( food, water quality,...) it might grow to 18 inches which is the with of your tank. I wouldn't keep a Jag in anything smaller then a tank that is 6 feet long and 2 feet wide but that's just me. But you have a few years until it will reach that size if it even gets that big and who knows maybe by then you have a 200 gallon tank.
 
When I got my 1st Jaguar, I was told it would reach 18-24 inches. I scoffed at this because that was "in the wild length." Now that I am more experienced, I realize there is a fine line between "average aquarium length" and "in the wild length." Average aquarium length is okay, but being prepared to have a potential monster is better. With the proper care and housing, they will easily reach their "wild" length and in some cases exceed it (M. zebra usually exceeds its wild length in the home aquarium because of higher food accessibility).

My 2 year old Jaguar is now a 14 inch bathing beauty and it doesn't look like she's stopping there. :)
 
a 75 is really a little cramped for a full grown jaguar. and because of that will promote extra agressive behaviour. As when it hits maturity you probalby wont find much of your convicts. Though up until then it is more than likely to be pretty timid.

look up some of Mojo's pictures on this website and find some pictures of his Jumbo, that will give you an idea of how massive these fish can get.


PS i LOVE jaguars. *drool*
 
Thanks for the info guys :). It's good to know that I have a good amount of time to get a larger tank for him. So far, he seems quite content, he begs and pushes the two female cons around.

I realize that this will most likely change he (maybe she), but is it normal for him not to bother the pearl gourami? I'm trying to find them a new home, but how long will this last?

Also, can I feed him like cooked steak? I can't get beef heart real easy around here.
 
I wouldn't feed it steak. In the wild they don't really eat cows either. Feed it some quality pellet food, frozen blood worms, krill, shrimp, regular earth worms chopped into pieces, small crickets also peas, zuchinni and other vegetables won't hurt either if he/she likes it once in a while.
 
the jaguar is predatory so try and ensure you get pellets with high protein content. also try out blood worms and beef heart etc.

The gourami will probably be good unless the jaguar decides it might be a tasty treat.

the jag will only really get territorial with other cichlids (your con's)

though there is a chance it will beat the c*ap out of your gourami lol
 
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