Just got this 5 Electric Blue Jack Dempsey. Saw one in Gilberts post which encouraged me to buy some. They're really nice but the picture didn't give much justice to their color. They're just 1" small but has deep blue coloration already. Is it ok for them to stay in one tank? Right now, they're in my 55 gallon tank and a bigger tank is being prepared for them when they grew up. I put some minnows in the tank to help lessen aggression if any. Right now, I really don't see one. Also, I have a pH problem on that tank. I already tried Seachem Neutral Regulator to hit 7.0 but PH still remains at around 6.6-6.8. Tried Seachem pH UP and still it stays to 6.8. Lastly, I tried API pH Up but also to no avail. Any advise will be highly appreciated. Thanks!

they are pretty mellow in my experience. NOt like a regular dempsey. Crushed coral in your filter will help buffer your ph up, or you can use it mixed in the substrate.

i concur with above post.

however you might want to remove the minnow, i'd be afraid of xfer of diseases to the EBJDs. EBJDs are already quite a handful to keep alive. they say if you can get them to 3inches you should be good, and they should be ok. just getting them to that size i have found out is very freaking hard. i've lost 4 trying to get them to breeding size. no aggro or feeding problems, nothing. fine one day then blammo drop dead for no reason.

sorry this isn't trying to discourage you from trying to keep them, just sharing my experience with them. my brother has one that is about 8inches now, and he has never had problems with him.

I have heard that alot also. I bought mine at 6 inches so didn't experience that problem, but I hear they are suseptable to popeye and eye problems among other things. They also grow weird sometimes, and are slow growers. Very sweet fish though I must say.

I lost 2 all ready u right MFD and 1 was growing agly gave up on them moved onto other spacies

i went throught about 5 of them. .. . don't put any FH's in there bigger than them .... they will loose .

Thanks for the advise guys. I'll try this crushed corals. Hope it will work this time.

I used to breed ebjds get urself a uv sterilizer cause ebjds get sick and parasites very easy till they get about 3 1/2 inches.definatly whatch what u feed them they get internal parasites also very easy.if u see stringy white poo kiss him goodbuy.we used to call it ebjd s.I.d.s cause one day they are eating and fine the next there won't eat then they just drop dead.a uv sterilizer fixes the problemm ounce I got the sterilizer I went a couple of years of breading without a death.u should also get some pimafix ebjds get allot of fungus also melafix.I sold thousands of ebjds at my peak who noes u might have one of my great grandfish.fhs will kill ur ebjds I don't suggest mixing them.ebjds are beautifull fish not one looks alike they are 2 on my fav fish list.gl pat uv sterilizers are a must witg ebjds jbl lighting sells a small 5 or 7 watt submersable ones called the submariner great product for a great price they are the only company that sells uvs for tanks under 80 gallons.

This post has been edited by endgname: May 2 2008, 10:15 AM

Yeah man... they sure are touchy when small. I kept the heat on 84-85 for my EBJDs when young. Water must be super clean too. UV are great. I wish more folks understood that when keeping any pricy fish a UV is a great preventative tool. Takes care of some of the algae as well. Speaking of algae... feed on the veggie side until they get bigger. Avoid live foods!

Totally take out those minnows bro. They are not all that aggressive as a whole. Here is a good link for you:

http://bluejax.co.uk/default.aspx

well said my friend.pat

Sounds like the bloat fry flowerhorn get it too cuasethey are greedy do as much w/c wen u feed good

Thanks again bro. I installed my UV yesterday for added protection. Up to this day, they're all fine and eating. Giving them frozen blood worms and flakes alternately. I keep you guys posted.