GoGators

Since I'm new to cichlids, I need some advice. Can I keep any other fish with a Jack Dempsey or must it remain alone in the tank? This weekend I acquired (by default) two tanks with fish: one 38 gallon with two Jack Dempseys and one 29 gallon with one oscar and one Jack Dempsey. I've already removed the smaller JD from the 38 gallon as the larger one was really picking on the smaller one. I think I need to move the Oscar OR the JD out of the 29 gallon since they don't seem to get along either. They are of similar size, but the Oscar can really pack a punch. Now I'm trying to decide what to do with one JD (about 4 inches) and one Oscar (about) 6 inches.
Background:
I was at a yard sale and saw people moving furntiure a few houses down so I thought they were also having a yard sale. I stopped by to see if they had any good stuff. They were not having a yard sale but moving and had to be out of the house by the end of the day. They said they had fish tanks to give away to anyone who would drain, disassemble, and take them away. THe rest is history.... what to do with JDs? Oscar

Shaina

Unless you have a much larger tank for them or plan to get one soon, I would try to trade them in to your local fish store or give them to someone else. Unfortunately neither a 29g or a 38g are close to being big enough for an oscar or a JD (their growth will be stunted if it hasn't been already, which is very unhealthy and will ultimately kill them), and lack of space may well be the root cause of the aggression issues you are seeing.

Congrats on the free tanks though ~ that is excellent