Electric Blue Jack Dempsey

fish description – Electric Blue Jack Dempsey Cichlid Care Guide ($Rocio\ octofasciata$ ‘Electric Blue’ Strain)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Rocio\ octofasciata$ (‘Electric Blue’ Strain)
Common Name	Electric Blue Jack Dempsey (EBJD), Powder Blue Dempsey
Origin	Central America (Selectively Bred Strain)
Adult Size	6–8 inches (15–20 cm)
Temperament	Semi-aggressive, territorial, can be aggressive when breeding
Lifespan	8–12 years
Care Level	Intermediate to Advanced (Sensitive to water quality/disease)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A robust cichlid with a laterally compressed body, displaying a brilliant, uniform powder-blue or electric-blue base color overlaid with varying patterns of black spotting or marbling. The blue is most intense when the fish is healthy and settled.
• Coloration: Vivid blue is the key trait. Males are slightly larger, have longer, more pointed dorsal and anal fins, and may develop a subtle nuchal hump. Females are shorter and rounder, often showing less prominent blue spangling on the lower part of the face/body.
• Fins: The dorsal and anal fins are pointed, often reaching the caudal fin.
• Behavior: Active and generally territorial. They are enthusiastic diggers and will rearrange the substrate to their liking. They require calm to moderate water flow, which is gentler than the wild type.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons (208 liters) is the minimum for a single fish. A larger tank (75+ gallons) is highly recommended for a pair or if keeping with large tank mates. The tank should be long and wide.
• Schooling: Best kept singly or as a monogamous pair (if a pair forms naturally). Aggression increases when breeding, necessitating a large, complex environment.
• Temperature: Tropical range: $72^\circ$–$82^\circ\text{F}\ (22^\circ$–$28^\circ\mathrm{C})$ (ideal $76^\circ$–$80^\circ\text{F}$).
• pH Level: Slightly acidic to neutral: 6.5 to 7.5. They are highly sensitive to pollutants and require superior filtration and frequent water changes (25–40% bi-weekly or weekly) to keep nitrates below 20 $\text{ppm}$. Water flow should be gentle to moderate.
• Aquascape: Requires a fine sand substrate for digging and foraging. Decorate with securely anchored rocks (to create caves) and driftwood to provide hiding spots and visual barriers. Avoid live plants unless they are hardy and attached to décor, as the fish will dig and uproot them.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Electric Blue Jack Dempsey is an omnivore with a carnivorous tendency.

• Staple Diet: High-quality cichlid pellets (sinking or slow-sinking) and flakes formulated for medium-sized carnivorous fish.
• Supplementation: A varied diet rich in protein is essential for color and health. Offer frozen or live foods regularly: Bloodworms, Brine Shrimp, Mysis Shrimp, and chopped earthworms. Occasional blanched vegetables should be offered.
• Schedule: Feed 2–3 times daily in small portions. They should consume all food in a few minutes.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Less aggressive than the wild type, but still territorial. Will eat small fish that fit in its mouth and can be aggressive toward similar-shaped fish. They are prone to Hole-in-the-Head disease (HITH) and Lateral Line Erosion (LLE) if water quality is poor.
• Good Tank Mates: Large, robust, and fast-moving fish that can hold their own. Examples include Severums, Geophagus species, large Loaches, Bichirs, and large Catfish (e.g., Synodontis, Plecos).