jack Dempsey's

[smokinjoe1455]

I have 2 JD and they started to lock mouths like there kiss is this breeding or fighting????

 

[PockX]

Are they chasing and does it look aggressive? That is most likely fighting. What is your tank size?

 

[smokinjoe1455]

Yes they do chase each other and it is a 55gal

 

[smokinjoe1455]

They r still young tho only about 3in

 

[smokinjoe1455]

Don't look to aggressive

 

[Tobykourtney]

If they start to hang around each other all the time within a few inches 24/7 and become nonagressive towards each other after the first couple of days it was probably jaw locking to choose a mate. 3 inches is sexually mature for a jack dempsey. I have 2 about the same same size and the female lays eggs around every 15 days. Most of the time when they are that small they usually eat the fry because they don't know any better yet. Post pics of both the fish please so we can see if its actually a male and female.

 

[smokinjoe1455]

I think male not sure

 

[smokinjoe1455]

Not sure if this one is male or female

 

[cbourg746]

I think male not sure

Female.

 

[cbourg746]

Not sure if this one is male or female

This one appears to be male.

 

[smokinjoe1455]

OK thanks how do u tell??

 

[cbourg746]

OK thanks how do u tell??

In the first set of pics you can see that the blue spangles on the gill plates form almost a solid blue blotch across the whole gill. This is a female trait. In the second set of pics there is an absences of spangles down the gills. This is a male trait.

 

[smokinjoe1455]

OK thanks.. I hope I have male and female. Is it hard to breed JDs? My r really tame I feed them by hand.

 

[cbourg746]

OK thanks.. I hope I have male and female. Is it hard to breed JDs? My r really tame I feed them by hand.

Jacks are not really hard to breed but I have found it better to get small fish in groups of 5-6 and let the pairs form naturally. That way your odds are a lot better. Just throwing a male and female in a tank isn't always a sure thing like convicts. If they don't like each other or find each other suitable mates then the deed will not be done.

 

[smokinjoe1455]

OK thanks