I got a jack dempsey and at first it seemed ike a really bad idea with my oscars they were nipping at each other but now the oscars stay to themselves and the JD just kind of chills near the bottom but its been almost a week and I have not seen him eat he does not even look at food. He doesn't even try, the oscars are kind of scared of him so I don't think its that. At what point do I take him out if he doesnt start eating? I don't want him to starve. Thanks - Jon

Mayb your fishes do this becoause they are scared of each other they tink that if they come out they would get attacked. Just let it starve for a few days. It will eventually come out. If not buy sinking pellets and drop them near your fish if it does not eat something might be wrong. You should then approach your local fish shop for help.

Thanks yea the problem is here that all the local pet stores are almost gone and "petco" and "petsmart" are almost all you can find and then trying to find someone that even knows what an oscar or jack dempsey is is pretty hard.

They will probably settle down and be ok. The JD hopefully will work out that oscars dont cause grief when food is about. If the JD hasnt eaten after 2 weeks then either seperate or put a divider in. The JD will hopefully then start eating. After a week remove the divider. If this go back to normal then remove the JD. Sinking pellets are a good idea, as are maggots

Thanks its been about a week I saw the JD try to eat a rock today, also when I woke up I noticed he only chase my two darker oscars not the albinos and one of them turned around and took a chunk out of his head but other then that no injuries, Jon

Keep a close eye on the injuries, if they get real bad then separate

Do you use sinking or floating fish food(or live food)? When i get new jacks, they sometimes do that ont he first few days. I just drop some sinking pellets near them and they gobble them up. After a few days they may come out more often and become active.

hes in his own tank now, I have to find someone to take him. He chewed up my one oscar on its side that was the last straw. I wanted oscars the JD was kind of an impulse buy and it just didn't work out so hes all by himself and at least hes eating.

I hope he's in a big tank, Jack Dempsey's need a 55 gallon minumum.

hes only 2 inches long I don't think he will be in too much pain in a 30 gallon tank for a few days.

Ok. Jack Dempsey are fast growers though, and grow from 3/4 to 1'' a month in their first year or so, almost as fast, if not as fast as oscars.