Electric Blue Jack Dempsey tank mates?

[NthPvttucker]

Hi everyone, I have a 55 gallon aquarium set up, i have 2 Electric Blue Jack Dempseys (1 1/2 inches) 2 firemouths (1 1/2 inches) a black convict (1 inch) and a jewel cichlid (1 1/2 inch) and 2 chinese algae eaters

the jewel cichlid doesnt really mess with anyone, but i noticed one of the firemouths will chase the jack dempseys away, but also the other firemouth. are they good tank mates? there hasnt been any actual fighting, they still eat and everything and have lots of hiding places, im asking because i noticed the smaller of the jack dempseys is a pale blue color (still babies, not full grown) and im not sure if its because hes starting to finally get his color from getting bigger or if he is just stressed, or both.

please let me know! thanks!

 

[carlj007]

i belive that the electric blue is stressed... they as the norm go light when they are stressed and balck when angry, also your tank will be way to small for all these cichlids and there WILL be even more aggression when they are bigger... how long have these fish been in the tank? i would recomend about a 150 gallon tank for these fish

 

[NthPvttucker]

about 3 days? im definately keeping the blues, i gave my green terror that was 4 inches to a petstore to put him up for adoption because i knew he was too big, but right now theyre only about 1 1/2 inches tops for all of them, the 2 blues were added today, one is alot darker than the other in the shade of blue, the other is more of a white color but hes still very active, swims up to the glass and everything

 

[Petahhd]

When the JDs grows up, they'll actually start chasing your firemouths. I have 2 JDs and 2 firemouths and they live with each other fine, but that's because my Jds pair are pretty peaceful and the firemouths know better than to mess with them.

 

[carlj007]

as they fish have been in there a relativly short time , they are probably working out who is the boss of the tank and who has which hides keep an eye on them though!

 

[Jamo3030]

You can keep those in the 55 if you keep on top of it. You might want to get up to a 75 or 90 but I think the 150 comment is a little extreme. Firemouths, convicts, and jewels are not huge fish, nor are JD's for that matter. The convict could end up being the bully of the tank even when the JD's are full grown and much larger than the convict. If your water quality is good and there is no aggression I see no problem. I also agree, they're just sorting out who's boss.

 

[screaminleeman]

The EBJD in my avatar got picked on by mercilessly a Firemouth daily until one day he fought back. The Firemouth was dead within a week after that!

Like Jamo3030 said. My 6" EBJD is currently in a 90G with a smaller 5" male convict, Two Indo-Datnoids < 4 - 5". The Male Convict bullies the tank.