Jack Dempsey
Rocio octofasciata
The Jack Dempsey, a cichlid from southern Mexico to Honduras, lives in slow, warm waters — swamps, canals and ditches. It eats worms, crustaceans, insects and fish. Its name comes from the American boxer, for its aggressiveness. The pair spawns on a hard surface and guards the eggs and fry together. There is an 'electric blue' variety. It has been introduced to Australia, the United States and Thailand.
- Scientific name
- Rocio octofasciata
- Family
- Cichlidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Order
- Cichliformes
- Synonyms
- Archocentrus octofasciatus, Cichlasoma biocellatum, Cichlasoma hedricki, Cichlasoma octofasciatum, Cichlasoma octofasciatus, Cichlosoma biocellatum, Heros octofasciatus, Nandopsis octofasciata, Parapetenia octofasciata
Origin
- Native region
- América do Norte
Water
- Temperature
- 20–30 °C
- pH
- 6.5–8
- General hardness (GH)
- 5–20 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank (volume)
- 243 L
- Minimum tank (length)
- 120 cm
Behavior
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social life
- Pair
- Swimming level
- Middle
- Diet
- Omnivore
Care
- Care difficulty
- Moderate
Reproduction
- Breeding strategy
- Substrate or cave spawner
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
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