helen38

i have to jds who i think may have paired off. my problem is they are only smallish, the one who i think is male is abt 4inch and the female 3inch. i thought they would be to small to breed. they started swimming together and have now dug a pit under some large rocks, they are both being extremely terrortorial towards there cave and are chasing off my multi punctatus (excuse my spelling). is this breeding behaviour or is that typical JD behaviour?

capekate

It sure sounds like they have paired up and cleaning up a spawn area. They may be too immature to have a successful spawn right now, but it sounds like they are practicing! Best of luck with them...

helen38

thanks for your quick reply kate, i was just worried because there still only young.

capekate

Your lucky that you dont have two that fight like my own.. Im sure that nature will take care of them.. and you may or may not get a spawn or a small one or none at all this early, but at least they seem like a pair and working together and thats the main thing.

Shawnie

at that age, id say typical jd behavoir..yours still have the bars and light colors dont they? (or am I having a brunette moment?) .usually adult breeding pairs are 6-8 inches with all their blues/greens speckles and dark body color....

Shawnie

maybe we should do a swap and try to get a breeding pair out of our four!!!!

capekate

LOL... Im still trying to figure out who is Jack and who is Jill (btw isnt that the name of your JDs too ) We would prob end up sending each other the wrong pair.. lol end up again with two females or two males...

Shawnie

hahahahaha probably!! and yes I Have a jack n jilly gal...im 99% sure mine are m/f but theres always 1 darn % ...the bf says they look the same but hes not into the fish like i am LOL

capekate

Yep, and your Jacks are much older than mine. One of mine is a year old and the other is probably around 7-8 months old... I sure hope they grow more now that they are in the 55. I just introduced two Texas Green Terror juvi's in there with them.. Boy did the Jacks like chasing them around, but they have started to calm down. I moved things around and gave them all more hiding spots.
opps sorry for the hijack..

Shawnie

that should keep everyone in line!!!!!!! (the terrors) get pics...and maybe start a new thread so i can see them!!!!!!

sorry for hijacking also

Markm0723

Hi Helen,
Most of my Dempseys become sexually mature at between 3" and 3.5", so yours are most likely about to spawn. Young pairs are not always the best of parents, so don't be too upset if the first spawn or two don't make it, they'll get better as they learn. Dempseys are my favorite fish, and become some of the best parents in the fish world. Good luck with yours and their future kids.

Mark

helen38

thanks mark, just came home from work and i think i have eggs. il see how they go and if it goes wrong its natures way of sayin there a bit too small.

Markm0723

Good luck, and please keep us updated.

Mark

helen38

i definately do have eggs, one whole side of a rock is covered

tomchitown

wow.... my jacks haven't laid eggs yet ... good luck