I dont get whats going on?

Question

Ok, i bought a blue jack dempsey...and when i put him in my cichlid tank he wasnt going well and was getting attacked. This was at the point where i thought cichlids and jack dempseys were alike and go in the same water. So i took him out and he turned pure black. So now hes in a pure freshwater tank, its a community tank and i can see small spots of his original colors but he is still solid black and on certain times of the day he turns into a lighter black kinda like gray...its hard to explain but i would like to know whats gpoing on?

Answer 1

What types of other cichlids do you keep? The Dempseys are New World, and don't need the salt or pH content of the Africans, so if you have an African set-up the differnt water chemistry might be the problem.

One possibility is that the color change is due to stress. Being picked on, any difference in water chemistry than what your fish was used to would both be stressful for him. Some fish also change color overnight to be less obvious to predators. And he could just be getting used to having been moved twice and you're keeping watch on him too closely and he's not accustomed to you yet. Is there any pattern as to when the color changes occur?

A final thought is that he was exposed to poor water quality in the tank with the Dempseys. Fish get accustomed to the water conditions in which they're kept, but he was new to the tank. Cichlids can be pretty messy eaters. Do you know what the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are, both in the cichlid tank and the tank your Dempsy is now in?

Answer 2

cichlids are carnivorous fish, you can put two of the same exact cichlid in one tank and the stronger one will pick on the weaker one, it's just their nature. As far as his color goes, this is what I found when I googled it. "If your Jack Dempsey cichlid suddenly changes its coloration, the alteration can have been caused by a number of factors. Sudden changes can be caused by mood swings, and stress can also make the Jack Dempsey cichlid dampen its colours. A varied and nutritious diet is also necessary if you want your Jack Dempsey cichlid to display really great colours. Age and health will also affect the coloration of a Jack Dempsey cichlid. If your Jack Dempsey cichlid becomes ill or experience a lot of stress in the aquarium, it can turn much paler than normal and look dull."

Answer 3

I have a Jack Dempsey myself and he is very colorfull.But his color changes with his mood and changes with his environment for camoflage.Such as the color of the decorations or rock.He's pretty cool. But what other cichlids do you have? If you have African Cichlids thats not a good pair with a Jack because he's a central american cichlid.

Answer 4

The color change has to do with mood and stress - cichlids tend to react very visually to their environment.

Many people mak ethe mistake of thinking cichlids can go together just because they are all cichlids. In truth, it's opposite. Cichlids are very territorial and often extremely aggressive, and must be mixed very carefully, if at all. They are best kept in species tanks, not matter how you look at it.

Answer 5

to add to the last answer, Jack Dempseys are cichlids and should not be in a community tank! Take him back to the pet store - they get BIG and VERY aggressive. Eventually all you'll have in the tank is one very large, nasty Dempsey.

Thanks!

Answer 6

Well all I ever had was a beta fish but he lived to be old.
I would have to change his water more often than what I was told.
I had all the things to treat for bacteria in fish and if I saw him getting that slough stuff I would change his water and treat it twice a day.
Sometimes I could use the flash light in the dark and see his skin better.
I actually sat up with him a few times.
Have you looked anything up that might fit his symptoms.

sandy

Answer 7

go to www.fishemporium.com for a complete answer