75 Gallon Tank Why Are My Jack Dempseys So Skittish?

I have had 9 Jack Dempsey cichlids since they where fry. I recently transferred them from a 20 gallon aquarium to a 75 gallon in hopes that they would flourish, but quite the opposite has happened they constantly hide behind the rocks and rarely swim around. When I walk near the aquarium they dart around and slam into the rocks and gravel. They have been in the 75 gallon tank for 2 weeks and nothing has changed. I am planning on taking them back to the pet store but the problem is I have to wait until the second Tuesday of next month. I would love to keep them but I don't want to waste my center piece aquarium on fish that hide and freak out when you get near them

 

What’s in with them?

 

Welcome!!!! How did they act in the 29? Is the aqua scape similar? Don't have any Dempseys, but quite a few cichlids. I have changed tanks with them more than once, never seen them hide for any length of time.

 

The 20 gallon had rocks with no substrate, I added the same rocks that where in the 20 into the 75 when I added the fish. The only thing in the tank with them is 2 clown Plecos which are both under 2 inches the Jack Dempseys range from 2 1/2 inches to 4 inches but they are all the same age.

 

The only thing in the tank with them is 2 clown Plecos which are both under 2 inches the Jack Dempseys range from 2 1/2 inches to 4 inches but they are all the same age.

That’s probably why. New tank, nothing swimming about out in the open (dither fish) so they think everything is either hiding or has left the area, which means there’s danger about...

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Add a little shoal of something too big to eat and too fast to catch and the JDs will feel secure. They also like lots of decor and plants etc. It all helps to make them feel safe.

 

75 Gallon Aquarium

• Coastguy228
• Jan 11, 2019

Here is a photo of the tank now. I'll do some research and find a good shoaling fish to keep with them. Thanks again for your quick replies.

 

Hmm... even dithers might not settle in such a tank. A background would help a lot.

 

Agreed its very bare. Once higher skirt tetras or cardinals would work well.

 

Agreed its very bare. Once higher skirt tetras or cardinals would work well.

Neither of those will work with Jack Dempseys.