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Author Topic:   Proper Care for a Jack Dempsy???
GoodboysBaddogs
Member

Posts: 409
From:Los Angeles, Ca.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-18-2003 01:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoodboysBaddogs     Edit/Delete Message
WOW! This is actually my 1st post here since i've been typing away in the doggie forums.

Anyhow, Hi!!
Anyone know where Nemo is?!?
Okay, okay, bad joke...

I'm actually taking care of a fish nick-named "Jack Dempsy" (sp?).
I was wondering what type (how many gallons/& shape) of aquarium would be best for his living style.
And, what kinda food would be best (on a daily basis)?

I'm actually "Fish-Ignorant", so PLEASE bare w/ me .
I do know that i could spend ours & ours & about a whole day just starring into an aquarium (especially after it's just been cleaned and remodeled ).
How long do Jack Dempsy's live, & what are they really called...LOL!?

Thanks ALL

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kc5gvn

Moderator

Posts: 806
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 12-18-2003 03:39 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for kc5gvn     Edit/Delete Message
Hello GoodboysBaddogs, No, I don't know where Nemo is but I do have his movie even though I haven't seen it yet. Jack Dempsey's real name is Cichlasoma octofasciatum. They are South American Cichlids and considered to be aggressive. The dorsal and anal fins of the female are rounded and the males are more pointed. When properly maintained they will live 8 to 10 years. There are varying descriptions of mature length. Most that I have seen are about 8" at maturity. General guideline for larger cichlids is 1" of fish per 3 gallons of water. The most compatible fish for Dempsey's are other South American (New World) Cichlids, Oscars and Pacus, but check requirements for these fish because some of these get extremely large (over 2 feet). They can be feed Cichlid Pellets, frozen Brine Shrimp, or frozen Blood Worms do well. Hope this helps.

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GoodboysBaddogs
Member

Posts: 409
From:Los Angeles, Ca.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-20-2003 01:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoodboysBaddogs     Edit/Delete Message
KC5GVN:
Thanks for the helpful info...

I feel so sad for my Dempsey. He's barely in (i'm guessing) a 10 gallon square tank .
I mean he practically does'nt have any room to use his back/main fin. He basically just uses his dorsal fins to move "around", and b a r e l y forward.
I want to get him a bigger tank, but i don't have the money for a brand new tank right now. I'm estimating from your measurments (1" of fish, for every 3 gallons of water) that i'll need a minimum of a 24 gallon tank, because i think he's 7-8 inches.
What should i do?
Is there anywhere that someone could recommend where i could buy a (possibly used) fish tank?
Actually this Dempsey was my brother's, who was given to him by a friend, & now my bro does'nt want to take care of it anymore (or felt that i would give it a better home/life). So, i guess he's "mine" now.
I know "Bubba" is miserable in there.
It's been so long though.
When my bro's friend gave him his fish (my Dempsey), he was pretty much a baby, and was only around 3" or less (at least that's what i remember my brother told me). He's been in this same tank (10 gallon/same 1 he's in now) all his life!
I want give him a better home.
Should/could i sell him to a fish store?
I never actually called around to see, but it has been a thought.
How much should i get for him, if i could?
I just feel that by giving, okay, selling him to a fish store would give him a better life automatically by the b i g g e r tank they would place him in in the store.
And, he would finally have new friends to play w/, and won't have to be alone pondering his brain off!
He'd also get better food, and basically a better/NEW start at life.
I feel soooooo bad for him, i just don't know what would be the best thing for me to do .
I would'nt want anything bad happen to him if i do sell him away. I know i'd feel guilty. My mind would go crazy thinking of the illest things !?!!?!

i think that movie "finding Nemo" even made things worse for me , seriously though....


PLEASE HELP

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kc5gvn

Moderator

Posts: 806
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 12-20-2003 08:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for kc5gvn     Edit/Delete Message
Since Bubba has always been in this tank it's not quite as bad as one that was in a larger tank and then put in a 10 gallon. I believe Petsmart has a 20 gallon long tank for $25. If your using an outside filter now it could be transferred over to the 20 and probably give you adequate filtration. Dempseys are not known jumpers so you could probablly get by without a glass top for a while but you will have quite a bit of water evaporation. Of course the best solution would be to go to a larger tank like a 55 gallon and avoid the intermediate tanks since I'm sure you will be wanting to get more fish. There are free newssheets at the grocery store that usually have used fish tanks advertised at a good price or you could possibly put a tank on layaway at your local pet shop.As far as selling Bubba take a look at your local pet shop and see what a Dempsey his size is selling for. Most shops will take him in trade for store stock. If one his size is selling for $20 in your area you can probably expect to get a store credit of $10 if their business has been running good. If their business has been slow you may not get that much credit. Hope this helps.

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