Live fish will be delivered only to selected pincodes in Kolkata and nearby areas.

Here’s a complete and in-depth guide to the Electric Blue Jack Dempsey — a stunning freshwater cichlid prized for its brilliant coloration and relatively milder temperament compared to the standard Jack Dempsey.

⚡🐟 Electric Blue Jack Dempsey Overview

• Scientific Name: Rocio octofasciata (Electric Blue is a color morph)

• Common Name: Electric Blue Jack Dempsey, EBJD

• Family: Cichlidae

• Origin: Native to Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras), but Electric Blue is a selectively bred variety

• Habitat: Slow-moving rivers, streams, and lakes with rocky or muddy bottoms

📏 Physical Characteristics

• Size:

  • Electric Blue: 6–8 inches (15–20 cm)

  • Standard Jack Dempsey: Up to 10–12 inches (25–30 cm)

• Lifespan: 8–10 years with proper care

• Coloration:

  • Iridescent electric blue body with dark speckling

  • Less bulky and more streamlined than the standard Jack Dempsey

• Sexual Dimorphism:

  • Males: Longer fins, slightly larger, more vivid color

  • Females: Shorter fins, may have a rounder belly when gravid

🧬 Behavior and Temperament

• Temperament: Semi-aggressive, but less aggressive than standard Jack Dempsey

• Tank Level: Bottom to mid-level

• Social Behavior:

  • Territorial, especially during breeding

  • Can be shy when young or outcompeted by more aggressive tankmates

• Personality:

  • Intelligent and curious

  • Can recognize owners and interact at feeding time

🐠 Tank Requirements

🍽️ Diet

• Type: Carnivorous omnivore

• Preferred Foods:

  • High-quality cichlid pellets

  • Frozen or live foods: bloodworms, brine shrimp, krill, earthworms

  • Supplement with occasional veggies: blanched spinach, peas

• Feeding Tip: Feed once or twice a day; avoid overfeeding and give variety for best color and health

🐣 Breeding

• Spawning Type: Substrate spawner (lays eggs on flat surfaces)

• Breeding Behavior:

  • Pairs are territorial and protective

  • Fry are guarded by both parents

• Challenges:

  • EBJD are harder to breed than standard Jack Dempseys

  • Many Electric Blue individuals are genetically weaker; careful line-breeding is often required

• Fry Care:

  • Eggs hatch in 3–4 days

  • Fry become free-swimming in about a week

  • Feed with baby brine shrimp or crushed flake

✅ Tips for Success

• Introduce them to the tank as juveniles if keeping with other fish

• Avoid keeping them with overly aggressive cichlids (they can be bullied)

• Keep the water clean — EBJD are less hardy than their wild-type counterparts

• Provide hiding spaces to reduce stress

• Monitor for internal parasites (they are genetically more fragile)

🤝 Tankmate Compatibility

Electric Blue Jack Dempseys are best kept with similarly sized, non-aggressive or moderately aggressive fish.

Good tankmates (in a large tank):

• Severum cichlids

• Rainbowfish

• Firemouth cichlids

• Large peaceful barbs (e.g., rosy barbs)

• Plecos

• Silver dollars

• Angelfish (if not bullied)

Avoid:

• Small fish (they may get eaten)

• Highly aggressive fish (oscars, green terrors, jaguar cichlids)

• Fin-nipping species

⚠️ Common Issues

• Shyness or hiding: Especially when young or under stress

• Disease: More prone to internal parasites than regular JDs

• Color fading: Caused by stress, poor lighting, or low-quality food

• Breeding difficulty: Often sterile or fragile offspring due to inbreeding

🎯 Summary

The Electric Blue Jack Dempsey is a stunning, less aggressive variation of a classic cichlid. It's ideal for aquarists who want a colorful centerpiece fish without the extreme aggression of its wild-type cousin. It does, however, require careful tank planning, pristine water, and compatible tankmates to truly thrive.

*Pictures are for reference purpose size & color might vary slightly.

Delivery of live Fish is only available in Kolkata & Howrah.