jack dempsey breeding

Question
QUESTION: hey i have a 4ft with 1 big gold servum, small oscar, 4 jack dempsey (2 have paired off) 2 ell tail catfish, small female convict, four line catfish and a small Texas. i was wondering the jack dempseys are small, how big do they have too be until the breed? will i have to get some of the fish out, if so which ones, they don't seem to mind they Oscar and servum but its more the other jacks dempseys.


thanks
Corey

ANSWER: Hi Corey;

It's hard to say how big the dempseys will need to be when they are able to breed. Maturity doesn't always relate to size anyway. They may try to breed where they are but the resulting chaos and parental protectiveness would probably cause death, injury or illness of your other fish. I would get the pair of dempseys a larger tank of their own. I would say no smaller than a 40 gallon for just the pair and you will need more tanks for the babies as they get bigger too. Do you have a plan on what to do with the babies? Make sure you can get homes for them or sell them to local fish stores if you grow any to sale-able size of an inch or larger.

Your tank is pretty overcrowded actually, even if you moThey areve the dempseys. It's only large enough for one oscar and maybe a catfish, or the severum or plecostamus with him. This is because they are all still young and are going to grow very large. Your oscar will get to be over a foot long and the four line pimelodus cat will get about a foot too. The bigger your pimelodus gets, the longer his pectoral fin spines will get too and he can hurt all your other fish without meaning to if they get close to him in such a cramped space. They are nervous cats and need room to swim. Do more research on the internet to know what the adult sizes of all your other fish will be eventually so you can get an idea of what size tanks you need. They are all very messy too so until you can get more tanks or a larger one, make a 25% water change and gravel vacuuming twice a week, every week. They are not going to stay healthy and survive if you neglect this maintenance as you plan for more tanks or other homes for some of your fish.

Good luck...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for the advise, i only have a 2ft left in the shed. i put them in there this morning cas i saw they had layed eggs and the Oscar,and other dempseys were getting smashed. there are about 50 and 10 white ones which i think are the unfirtlizes ones. they have layed on a rock. how long b4 they hatch. i also have a breeding tank ill be putting the babies in there for a while.


thanks
Corey

Answer
Hi Corey;

The eggs hatch in about 3 days. The parents will care for the eggs and then take care of the babies for a long time too. If they have another batch before you take the babies out, the older babies may eat the new fry or eat the eggs. Many breeders allow this to happen for better health and growth of the older fry and avoiding having too many fry. I hope all goes well. Good luck...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins