I'm wondering if someone can fill me in on the nature of Jack Dempsey breeding and birth. I ask because I had recently set up a 150 gal. I had 3 Jack Dempseys that were
living very happily for a very long time until the move into the 150. Once in the 150 it was not long before one turned on the other on a daily basis and he died from injurys leaving me 2 dempseys. This two dempseys are always
hanging out together. Today (and I feel bad) I was gravel vac thier area and I noticed odd looking debri in the tube
roundish with a tip. I released them suction and let them back in the tank. Then on the rock next to where the dempseys hang out there were little round things but they were white and fuzzy. They were not there last night. However, the jacks are cleaning off the rock as I write.
"OK" here comes the ? lol. Do you think these are eggs and if so how long will it take before they become fish
if they do at all? If there anything I can do or give them to help these eggs survive and become something? If these are eggs its pretty exciting for me since this will be my first time with breeding in a tank.
Sorry this was long. Thanks you!

White eggs are unfertilized eggs, fertilized ones are a light brown. I wouldnt worry about the eggs, if they have been compromised and have died the JD's will lay more. Sometimes 2 female will lay eggs and obviously these are unfertilised so keep a close eye out for the next set of eggs and if the are all white you have either 2 females (most likely) or an infertile male

do u have a male? the males have a much more pointed upper fin and are usually more colorfull. if u got a pair exepect a couple rounds of babies. jds breed like crazy and are very good parents.

do u have a male? the males have a much more pointed upper fin and are usually more colorfull. if u got a pair exepect a couple rounds of babies. jds breed like crazy and are very good parents.

I definitely have a male and a female. Had two females but when I moved everyone into the 150 gal to a 30 gal the male all of a sudden made a attitude turn and beat the heck out of one of the females . Before that you never even knew he was in the tank. Funny thing is I kept telling my husband that although he looks like a dempsey his fin structure was different more like a peacock. The body markings although more darker/blackish did have the regular markings. Thanks for your help. I doubt I will
ever see any real babies tho.

It's official, I have a male & a female. Because I'm now the proud mommy of what looks like a couple 100 ? swimming
Jack Dempseys. Now, what do I do? This is so awesome.
The only other babies I have ever had in the aquarium hobby which I'm sure many of you can relate to is Mollys.
How fast will thise little guys go and how long will the parents try and keep them together to protect them.

Since, I'm still waiting for my tank to cycle can I take this as my water conditions not being that bad if I actually breeding & fry going on?

Sorry, double post.

How cool is that!
Not that I have a clue but wanted to congrat you. Are they still wrigglers or really swimming already?
All I know in general is that you can start feeding them when they left the wriggler stage, like with newly hatched brine shrimps or some liquid baby food or whatever they take. Just gotta make sure the water stays clean which might be a bit of a hassle with protective parents:laugh: I'd think they care about the fry for some weeks, you'll most likely notice yourself when the fry start living on their own rather than listening to mum. But someone else knows exactly probably.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

congrats on your batch of fry. i'm not sure on jd's but other cichlids that i have raised from fry(parrot convicts) would suggest that your safe in the tank with there parent until the female is ready to lay again.when that happens they might consider the fry a threat to the new batch of eggs and kill them off. i would remove them into a grow out tank just before the female lays again. good luck to ya and keep us updated on your progress

Well, that was short lived excitment. All the babies were gone within/less then 24 hours. I don't know what happened to them. When I was watching them it was really cool the parents would pick the strays up in thier mouth
and bring them back to the nest and spit them out. Boy, they had alot of work ahead of them. They all moved from one end of the tank to the other and then by night time they were gone. Unless, when the lights were out other fish stole them?

I will have to wait till next time, if there is a next time and see if I will be to salvage any.

I'll keep you posted.