Prologue.
I ran across these brilliantly colored dempseys about four
years ago. They were small and very pricy. They're coming in
slightly larger now, but they're still pricy. My original intention was to grow
some up and spawn them to see if they were replicable. Well, as time
and a half flits by, I still haven't raised any to a size large enough to
spawn. We get a little heft on them and someone wants to buy them.
Best we can do so far are two weighing in at 3.5 inches. And one looks
too crummy to want to breed. But, who knows?
LA
1-inch electric blue dempsey. Fairly delicate at this size.
LA
Another 1-incher.
LA
1-inch electric blue jack dempseys.
LA
The little inchers like to hang together.
LA
One-inch electric blue jack dempsey.
LA
Treat them like any other community fish at this size.
LA
They do better when kept with at least one buddy.
Youngsters.
Little electric blue dempseys get along with other small community
fish. I find them on the delicate side at this size. But then,
many inch-long cichlids are delicate (except convicts). Treat them
like little rams at this size. Keep them a bit warmer and give them a
variety of tasty snacks. They eat better when kept with other fish.
No particular need for lots of room at this size. They do like plants
and other cover.
Foods.
Like the regular dempseys, the electric blue dempseys willingly
accept most commercial foods. Of course they like treats like frozen
blood worms and brine shrimp. They especially enjoy the live
California blackworms. As much as they cost, you'll be tempted to just
get one. Get two. They do much better in groups. The more
the merrier.
LA
Electric blue dempseys "pale out" over white substrate (sand in this case).
LA
Same guy over slate grey gravel.
LA
Ditto.
LA
Nearly 2 inchers over white sand.
LA
Nearly two-inch electric blue jack dempsey.
LA
Another electric blue jack dempsey in same tank.
LA
Same guys after adjusting to their new tank.
LA
2-inch electric blue jack dempsey
LA
2-inch tlectric blue dempsey prefering to hide. to hide.
LA
Until coaxed out by several small cichlid pellets.
LA
2-incher over a darker substrate.
LA
Same guy. Better pose.
LA
Slightly larger electric blue dempseys over a different substrate.
LA
Different pair of electric blue dempseys.
Substrate.
As far as I can tell, electric blue dempseys could not care less
about their substrate. However, they do tend to bleach out over light
colored substrates, as do most cichlids. They darken over darker
substrates. Actually, they still look good over whatever you prefer to
use.
LA
Still not pestering his tank mates at this size.
LA
LA
LA
LA
LA
3-incher that never did develop any color.
Still Pricy.
Originally, I figured the price on these guys would drop like a
rock. After all, regular dempseys pop out hundreds of babies on a near
monthly schedule. Electric blue jack dempseys still cost way more than
regular dempseys. Sooner or later their production may catch up with
demand.
LA
Don't be skeptical.
LA
4-inch electric blue jack dempsey. I'll get them spawned eventually.
LA
His buddy below him -- not looking even halfway good. They're in with
a school of red parrot cichlids.
LA
He's looking better than he did when he came in. Still not good.
They ignore each other.
LA
Couple weeks later, still improving but not looking great.
LA
No doubt about it, electric blue dempseys look great.
LA
Getting along fine with a passel of other cichlids.
Breeding.
Not yet, but I'll keep trying to breed them.
LA
Just some more pics to feast your eyes on (and to clean out my camera).
LA
LA
2-inch electric blue dempsey almost over his
diffidence.
Last Word.
It's not over.
© 2010
LA Productions
aqualandpetsplus.com

3600
Sixth Avenue
Corner
of Sixth & Euclid Avenues
Des
Moines, IA 50313
515
283-0300
Home
Fish
Other
Stuff