Jack Dempsey (Archocentrus Octofasciatus)

Common Name:

Jack Dempsey.

Scientific Name:

Archocentrus Octofasciatus.

Family:

Cichlidae.

Class:

Central American Cichlid.

Distribution:

Yucatan peninsula, Guatemala, Honduras.

Size:

Males of this species tend to reach about 9-10 inches while females are normally 6-8 inches.

Diet:

They are omnivores. Foods such as Hikari gold pellets, algae wafers and spirulina flakes, krill, worms make great diets for these fish.

Water Temperature:

Approx 70-78 degrees Fahrenheit (21-25 Celcius)

Water Chemistry:

Medium hard water.

pH:

7.0-8.0.

Life Span:

15+ years.

Minimum recommended tank size:

For a single specimen a 55g would suffice but for a breeding pair of for a tank with tank mates a 75g would be necessary.

Sexing:

Sexing the dempsey is rather simple. Males will be larger and have longer more pointed fins with very little blue on the gill cover if any and will be in dots if its present whereas the female will have splotchs on her gill cover and have less color throughout the body. The female also tends to be more "squat" in shape.

Description:

Males of this species tend to reach about 9-10 inches while there have been reports of some reaching as large as 12 inches but this is very rare in most cases. Females are normally 6-8 inches. The dempsey isn't as pugnacious as one would like to think or as its reputation or name would suggest. They tend to be more docile and skittish. Males can be more aggressive than normal depending on the fishes personality. The dempsey has several colourful speckles across its body and almost a stained glass effect on the dorsal fin that will be displayed especially in the proper lighting. Tank makes for these guys would be other medium sized medium aggressive cichlids like firemouths, convicts, green terrors etc. as long as the tank is large enough. Pictus cats clown loaches and plecos are good bottom dwellers.

Breeding:

Breeding the jack dempsey is done in the typical cichlid fashion. They will clean off a piece of slate or an area inside a clay pot and the female will start laying her eggs as the male quickly follows up and fertilizes them. They will do this until all eggs have been laid and the female will begin to fan the eggs while the male stands guard outside the perimeter. Shift changes are indicated by vertical displays and gill flaring. The eggs will hatch after about 3-4 days and the wigglers will be transferred to a pit that has been dug by the parents where they both will stand guard. The young become free swimming after another several days after consuming the yolk sac in search of food in the form of crushed flake, baby brine shrimp, or liquid fry. Particles of food from the parents meal will also be discovered and consumed by the young fry. Once the young have reached the 1/2" mark they should be removed.

Photo Credit:

Photos supplied courtesy and ^©Pei.