The Puffer Forum

I am sure I know the answer, but I just need to hear it, and see what your opinions are.

My boss is getting two tanks from a guy who is housing 2 beautiful and not well-cared for jack dempseys. (They share a 60gallon tank.) He has grown tired of caring for them, and their water looks terribad (I saw pics on my boss's phone). He thinks that because they are about the same size as Vicious (My fahaka) now, that they would not be bullied by Vicious, and that since Vicious is aggressive himself, he will hold his own and they will all 'get along'. Despite my boss's efforts, I'm not completely sold although they are beautiful...

If I got them I would quarantine them of course, but they would have to go (eventually) into Vicious's tank, which currently has an electric blue and an electric yellow cichlid, a bristle nosed pleco and Vicious which all get along well for now. I'd be tempted to get rid of the smaller cichlids - but just interested in what you guys have to say. Dempseys are beautiful (and expensive at this size) and I can get them for next to nothing. I'd hate to pass up the opportunity - but I don't want to take on something if it's not smart. I've been going in circles about it... but I'm pretty sure I know what the verdict will be!

How big is the tank? JDs get quite large. Filbert beat the crap out of one he grew up with:




It died...

Why not take them, get them healthy, and then sell them? There's a lady around here though that has been trying to sell breeding pairs for months and no one wanted them. Her ads were eventually shut down.

Well, it's a 120 gallon tank. I'd love to get them, get them healthy and perhaps sell them. That is a great idea! In fact, I almost wonder if it's something my cousin would be interested in...

If nothing else I could sell them to the LFS - but I've also found myself at yet another "oh I forgot" spot... is that I have a 10g with marmorkrebs in it (that actually kill fish... not that I'm worried for the safety of the JD - but they won't fit in there...) and I also have a 25gal with a goldfish in it (Goldie can't go in with krebs by any means, and I doubt he'd be happy bunking with 2 good sized JD's.). My options for quarantine space is pretty limited. To setup a quarantine tank (get healthy to sell tank), I have a feeling it's going to be a large rubbermaid tub with a filter/heater slapped in. Think that would work?

I'd bet that the existing tank is in Old Tank Syndrome -JDs are tough fish, but they can be killed by shock.

They are of course incompatible w/puffers - from both sides.

It is very difficult to get adult fish to accept new mates.

I thought about that too, RTR. Thanks for reminding me. When my boss was showing me pictures, the tanks were almost green - and he said the guy has totally given up on keeping them nice. I always told myself I wasn't going to get another big tank for dempseys until we buy a house, which we ARE looking... But I think I'd like to wait, and get babies/small ones and watch them grow. The last thing I want to do is destroy my fahaka tank in efforts to save 2 old JD... which I may not be 'saving' by adding to the tank at any rate. Boyfriend nixed the idea of the rubbermaid tub tank too... We're using enough electricity to run what we have, and he'll be laid off for the winter soon.... plus my car needs work.

sucks when reality smacks ya around a bit lol....

Thanks everyone! I guess my boss will have to find a home for them, but I'll try to find them a home too!