Strange color on JD

[jerkyvan]

I have a Jack Dempsey I got from a LFS and the color is kind of strange. It was pretty dull when I got it, but I figured it was stressed. It is about 4 inches and I think it is a female due to the lack of pointed anal and dorsal fins, but the gills aren't very spangled just a little spotted like a males would be. The body has little to no spangles. The overall color is a little pale yellow with dark bands running from the top to bottom. It doesn't look like the pictures of the gold dempseys on the net. The body shape and bands look exactly like a normal JD, but the coloring is a bit off. The fish is fairly new. The lfs said they had it for about seven months since it was only about an inch or two. They had it in a small 10 - 15 gallon tank. I was wondering if it will start getting more color since it is in a better quality enviroment ( 75 gallon with good water conditions). I have only had it for a few days and it is already the boss of the tank (peace keeper between the salvini and firemouth). It seems to really enjoy its new space. Is this a different color jd or could be some form of crossbreeding.

[Pam Chin]

Hi Jerkyvan,

It is hard to say what the case may be. Remember that they only take pictures of exceptional specimens. Give your fish some time to settle in properly acclimate to your tank too. A few days, is not long enough to determine if it is an off colored JD. Color of your fish is determined my the conditions it is kept in, whether it is comfortable or not, whether it is dominate or not, and this all takes time. Color is also effected by the light you have on your aquarium as well as the color of your substrate and rocks, fish want to blend in.

The only sure way to sex cichlids is to look at their vents, you can use the typical cichlid clues like fin length; points or no points. But, the the only accurate way is to look at their vents.

So let him/her settle in and we shall see.