Electric Blue Jack Dempsey, Not eating and almost no poop. No rdg.      2/11/14 <Mmm, why? And what conditions, foods...> Short story, through my own ignorance and incompetence (and I thought I was doing everything right) my EBJD suffered a bout of HITH or HLLE about 1 1/2 to 2 years ago (yes, tank was overstocked then, and probably still is). I then changed the lighting fixture last year and had an algae bloom from hell (nearly 9 months).  During this time, I did perform weekly 30-50% water changes with gravel vacuuming - a couple times up to 75%. Mind you, I did not have a test kit at this time. I cleared the bloom just recently utilizing a UV sterilizer, and noticed that he wasn't eating. Prior, if his appetite was decreasing, which may have gone unnoticed, I didn't clear the uneaten food and this probably contributed to the bloom along with my stupidly rinsing filter media in tap water. I now have a test kit, and have determined I must do a minimal 30-50% water change with vacuuming twice a week to keep nitrates from going over 20, <? Read on WWM re NO3 control... why not? http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/NO3ContrF.htm and the linked files above>  instead of the once weekly that I had been doing.  The holes from his HITH or HLLE seem to have healed.  No new pits. <Do you use vitamins?> He has not been eating anything or pooping anything (until a little bit now-pooping that is), though he looks and acts okay. He will not eat anything. I've tried cooked peas soaked in garlic. <Yuck... try somethings more palatable... Worms of many sorts, insect larvae, crustaceans...>  No go. He does go to the back of the tank when the lights are on but swims around a bit when they're off. I finally saw some poop and I have attached the photos (best I could get). It isn't what I would call stringy, but it is a translucent very pale green. He also has a slight bulge on his left side. I don't want to just throw meds at him willy-nilly as usually this causes more problems or even fatalities. I currently have SeaChem Metronidazole**on hand but have not used, yet. <IF you go this route, make it a one-time administration. See WWM re why, dosing, dosage> I like this guy and I hope being a survivor of my what I thought was care, he can pull through. I do not have a quarantine tank. *Current Parameters:* 36g bowfront corner, Temp: 78d, PH 7.8, Ammonia: 0, Nitrites:0, Nitrates: 5, T5HO twin 24" lighting, Fluval 305 filter currently running one basket carbon, one polishing pads, one ceramic biomedia, River stone gravel, 4 plants. He is now about 6" from nose to end of tail. Tank mates: 1 6" plecostomus(will probably have to re-home), 2 Mystery snails Thank you, Lois <.... search, read... think, act. Bob Fenner>

Re: Electric Blue Jack Dempsey      2/11/14 Thank you for your response. Again, ignorance was/is at play. He was being fed primarily Hikari Gold pellets and he would snag algae wafers. At times freeze dried bloodworms and occasional flake food. No I haven't given him vitamins. I'll hit the lfs for some worms of some type and see if they have vitamins. <Do dig about in your yard for earthworms... a fave. See WWM re Feeding of Dempseys period> Do you feel there is any significance to the bm of that color? <Not really; no.> I do hesitate on medicating and will hold off for now. I may change the water 3 times per week. I'll check out the no3 link you provided when I get home from work. Thank you. Lois <And I would move that Pleco... may be harassing. BobF> Re: Electric Blue Jack Dempsey      2/11/14 Again thanks. I'll dig out in the yard when the temp gets above 12F average we've been having and there isn't 2' of snow :) <Yeeikes. Down to the seventies F. today in San Diego. I even had to put on a long-sleeve tee!> And I've already spoke to the lfs about rehoming the Pleco, and they'll take him in trade for some worms and other goodies. <Ah good. B> Re: Electric Blue Jack Dempsey      2/15/14 Mr. Fenner: I brought the Pleco to the lfs and picked up some earthworms. Mr. Dempsey seemed interested and did try to eat the worms.  He would repeatedly pick it up and spit it out and after doing this a few times  he would swim away.  I've tried giving him the worms a few times. <Keep trying; daily> Each attempt, I would make the worm smaller and smaller and the result was the same.  I then tried Mysis shrimp and he would spit them out.  I'm at a loss really.  Do you recommend the Metronidazole?  <Mmm; not unless there's good reason to believe it would be of benefit> I read the info on WWM regarding dosing.  Since he isn't eating, I assume I have to add to the tank water, but according to the site, this is not very effective.  <Correct> I guess I don't have too many options.  :( Lois <Patience; hope... and frequent partial water changes! BobF>

Re: Ornate Bichir and Jack Dempsey (problems) Now the latter's fdg.    12/14/11
Bob and crew,
 <JL>
Thank you so much for the reply. I ended taking the Jack to the fish store on a Saturday morning. I immediately regretted this and missed him enough to go back for him on Monday. i took the foot long Bichir in and hope he finds a happy home. So my question is ... how often should i feed my Jack?
<Mmm, this depends... Please read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/dempseyfdgf.htm
 I've never had him in the tank alone and would feed every other day and all the food would be gone but this was in part because the Bichir would eat whatever was at the bottom. Is feeding every other day the way to go for a single Jack?
<If it is of size, as yours is, this should be fine. BobF>

EBJD's Poor Eating Habit   8/3/11
I have owned my 8 inches (head-to-tail fin) Electric Blue Jack Dempsey since it was about 3 inches over 1 1/2-years ago. At that time, I had him with a Green Terror and fed my 55 gallon tank about 1-2 times daily with flakes in the morning and meat (i.e. krill, bloodworms, etc) after work, so my EBJD has always access to a decently well-rounded diet (Note: I gave my Terror away about 1 year ago...that fish ate any food type that I put in the tank). However, my EBJD will only eat frozen bloodworms. Since I've owned it, he has never taken to pellets or flakes (I've tried all major brands to be sure) and also refuses to even eat any other frozen foods, including silversides, beef heart, krill, shrimp, etc. About 4 days ago, I purchased live ghost shrimp and live brine shrimp and he never touched the brine shrimp (although the next day, all but one of 8-10 ghosts were bitten clean in half).
I've read on WetWebMedia a week or so back that I should attempt mixing bloodworms with flake at feeding times; I tried that for about 3 straight days to no avail. However, when I drop a cube of frozen bloodworms into the tank, my EBJD hardily accepts every time.
So, basically my question is two-part: (1) Should I continue to attempt to "force" him into a healthier diet, inclusive of pellets/flakes; and (2) will my EBJD's long-term health be on the line if I cave and solely feed it the bloodworms that it wants on a daily basis?
<Cichlids eat readily when healthy, and generally aren't picky. So my concern isn't "what does he want to eat" but "what's keeping him from being interesting in food". With cichlids, a good place to start is water quality. Check, in particular, nitrate level as well as the usual ammonia and nitrite. If the tank has been set up a while, but the fish has grown, then you can easily have reached a point where ammonia, nitrite and nitrate production have passed over a critical threshold. Improved filtration (i.e., more/bigger filters) and more water changes could help. Certainly, do a big water change, get nitrate down to below 20 mg/l, and ensure nitrite and ammonia are zero. Next, check water chemistry. The bigger the mass of fish in a tank, the faster acidification occurs, so again, there's a threshold point where the mass of fish is such that any pH drop between water changes can be big enough to harm your fish. Finally, review water temperature. During summer temperatures above 25 C/77 F are common, and warm water contains less oxygen, and that can affect cichlids. Cooling the tank is helpful. Cheers, Neale.>

last 3-4 weeks my 7-8" Jack Dempsey will not eat
Dempsey Not Eating Again    6/29/10
For the last 3-4 weeks my 7-8" Jack Dempsey will not eat. During feedings he will shutter his head, sometimes violently. He did this before 8-10 months ago but that only lasted 2-3 weeks. He shows no outward signs of disease. Any suggestions as to what could be wrong?
< Could be something caught in his throat like a plastic plant leaf or he has damaged the pharyngeal bones in his throat by eating something too hard. Offer a soft food like presoaked pellets or small flake food and see if he can take those for now. The bones may heal over time.-Chuck>

Dear WWM, I was wondering  6/21/10
Dear WWM, I was wondering what the best type of food for a Jack Dempsey is worms, pellets or feeder fish?
<Do not ever use feeder fish. These are "parasite bombs" that will eventually make your fish sick. Cyprinids such as goldfish and minnows also contain fat and thiaminase that causes nutritional problems. Good quality flake or pellet food, e.g., Hikari Cichlid Gold, makes a fine staple.
Augment with earthworms, small pieces of tilapia fillet, and chopped seafood as you prefer. Cheers, Neale.>
Dear WWM, if I have
Dear WWM, if I have 2 Jack Dempseys will having feeder fish in the tank
increase or decrease there aggression toward each other
<The use of feeder fish tends to make fish MORE aggressive. The use of feeder fish is also unsafe, unhealthy, and inhumane. There are NO GOOD REASONS to use feeder fish. Cheers, Neale.>

Jack Dempsey Not Eating - Behavior or Illness? Hi, just found your wonderful website this morning, and hoping you can advise me on a sick Jack Dempsey.  I have a 65 gallon tank with 2 - 10" Oscars and 1 - 6" Dempsey. I have had the tank for 3 years, and these are my original fish, purchased as infants. In the past week, I have noticed the Dempsey not eating, and hiding behind a couple of plastic plants I keep in the tank. I keep the tank at 78 degrees, maintain aquarium salt at 1 tbspoon/7 gallons, and do weekly water changes (about 12 gallons each week). The Dempsey looks fine, great color, no external signs of illness other than his shrinking stomach.  I have noticed he is timid around the ever-growing Oscars, and has always "eaten second". Am I dealing with an internal parasite, or is there a possibility this is a behaviour problem and he needs a separate tank? This fish has become an "old friend" so I would greatly appreciate any advice. THANK YOU! < A couple of things come to mind. Sometimes these large fish eat all kinds of stuff that get stuck in their throat or damage their second set of jaws or their pharyngeal bones. Try and see if anything is stuck in his mouth with a flashlight. If nothing looks like it is stuck there then try to presoak the food and make it softer. If he is still not eating because he is so intimidated by the Oscars then it might be time for a new tank.-Chuck>

Chokin' Your Jack! I've had my jack Dempsey in a ten gallon tank for a while and now moved him into a 30....everything seemed fine tell now when I feed him his food he will eat one pellet then quickly rush down to the bottom and lose color and will not go back up and eat again...he is acting very strange only when he eats. can you help me....  < Could be he is choking on the pellet. Try and presoak a pellet so it is not so hard and then give it to him. If he has the same reaction then I would switch to flakes or a different food and see how he reacts.-Chuck>

African Cichlid Tank Size, feeding Dempseys  11/12/06 I currently have 3 butterfly male peacocks in a 20 gallon long. Two cichlid "experts" told me this will work fine with no other fish in the tank. <Mmm...> It's been 2 months and so far they are doing fine. I will soon be acquiring 2 yellow labs from a friend and want to add them with the peacocks. I have a 30 gallon tank I could set up for all of them. Will this work okay for them or do I need a bigger tank yet? <Bigger would be better, but the thirty might work> Also, I have 2 Electric Blue Jack Dempseys (approximately 2 inches long) in a 60 gallon tank. They will not eat anything but blood worms. They refuse flakes and pellets. I know they need more variety in their diet, so how can I get them to eat something else? Thanks for your help, Kelly Jones <Try Spectrum pelleted food... Highly palatable, and mix some of this in with the bloodworms in increasing concentration... Bob Fenner>

Jack Dempsey Hooked On Blood Worms    11/27/06 I have a 2 inch electric blue jack Dempsey and he is in a 60 gallon tank. He has been pooping stringy white for several days. He is eating fine (although he refuses to eat anything but bloodworms) and moving around fine. Water tests all measure zero for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. No signs of ick on him or other fish in the tank, and the others poop the normal brown/black poop. Is the poop from eating only bloodworms or is it reason to be concerned about something else? Thanks for your help, Kelly < Don't feed him for three days then offer a few blood worms with some other foods like Spectrum pellets. Over time his blood worm only diet will cause problems.-Chuck>