I have 2 jack dempseys (they look to be female) and a severum in a 55 gallon. They are all around the same size (2-3 inches). Jack dempsey number "1" is aggressive to the severum and jack dempsey number "2" and jack dempsey number "2" is aggressive to the severum. The severum is very peaceful and doesn't bother the other 2. I understand having 2 jack dempseys in the same tank together is not a good idea but I feel like the only reason is because there isn't enough fish in the tank to spread out the aggression. If that is the case then what fish should I get to help distribute the aggression other cichlids or dither fish and how many should I get?
yves saint laurent
It’s NOT the amount of fish. Your riverine Jack Dempsey are not African Mbuna! And, should never be kept that way.
It IS the size of the aquarium.
Post #11 in that thread will explain the problem you are having now.
Plus…. The South American Severum originates from vastly different water chemistry than the Central American Jack Dempsey. To keep your Severum from getting HITH/HLLE, it should be kept in soft water with a neutral PH of no more than around 7.0. To keep your Jack Dempsey Cichlids from getting runaway fungus or bacteria infections, their water should be MUCH harder, with a PH of at least 7.8 - 8.0.
Those two Cichlid species are incompatible together.
It IS the size of the aquarium.
Post #11 in that thread will explain the problem you are having now.
Plus…. The South American Severum originates from vastly different water chemistry than the Central American Jack Dempsey. To keep your Severum from getting HITH/HLLE, it should be kept in soft water with a neutral PH of no more than around 7.0. To keep your Jack Dempsey Cichlids from getting runaway fungus or bacteria infections, their water should be MUCH harder, with a PH of at least 7.8 - 8.0.
Those two Cichlid species are incompatible together.
The name Jack Dempsey is in reference to a scrappy champion boxer of the early 1900s,
When JDs were 1st imported from the Yucatan, aquarists noticed they most would kill other tank mates, if forced to live in tiny puddle like tanks, such as 55 gals, so the boxer moniker stuck,
Rocio are extremely territorial, so expecting more than 1 JD to share that size tank with other cichlids is extremely remote.
Even in nature, when they share a Cenote of a few thousand gallons, they get torn uo in turf wars, with other cichlids.
Vtdeos from nature below
027 zps4b102ffd
In much larger Cenotes (with millions of gallons) where they are the dominant cichlid, and share vast amounts of space with non-territorial fish species do they coexist without violence.
Eden2
And as Auballgh pointed out, Heros severus are from the soft, low pH waters of the Amazon in South America
which is a totally different biotope than the hard, high pH waters of Mexico.
New world cichlids (especially those from Central and North America) are totally different animals than their African and even S American cousins, that sometimes can share and get crammed into tiny tanks.
And because JDs will grow to 10", even a 6 ft tank, of over 100 gallons may only be enough space to support a single, compatable pair, with only non-cichlid dither fish. as tank mates.
When JDs were 1st imported from the Yucatan, aquarists noticed they most would kill other tank mates, if forced to live in tiny puddle like tanks, such as 55 gals, so the boxer moniker stuck,
Rocio are extremely territorial, so expecting more than 1 JD to share that size tank with other cichlids is extremely remote.
Even in nature, when they share a Cenote of a few thousand gallons, they get torn uo in turf wars, with other cichlids.
Vtdeos from nature below
027 zps4b102ffd
In much larger Cenotes (with millions of gallons) where they are the dominant cichlid, and share vast amounts of space with non-territorial fish species do they coexist without violence.
Eden2
And as Auballgh pointed out, Heros severus are from the soft, low pH waters of the Amazon in South America
which is a totally different biotope than the hard, high pH waters of Mexico.
New world cichlids (especially those from Central and North America) are totally different animals than their African and even S American cousins, that sometimes can share and get crammed into tiny tanks.
And because JDs will grow to 10", even a 6 ft tank, of over 100 gallons may only be enough space to support a single, compatable pair, with only non-cichlid dither fish. as tank mates.
I would only do a single female Jack Dempsey in a 55 gallon with no other cichlids, it's just way too small a tank for adding a load of bruisers together and expecting them all to get along, it's not going to happen I'm afraid.
Your problems are just beginning, and your 'solution' will only make matters worse. You have too many aggressive fish in too small a tank.
I guess im just lucky. I had 2 demseys together in a 75 for almost 10 years. They ate the convicts early on but after that they were both afraid of their own shadow for the most part.
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