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About Lynda
Expertise
I can help you with cichlids, african cichlids, betta fish. I have bred most of them, including the Discus, and Angel Fish, and Rams. I have also bred many african cichlids. I have bred bettas too...well I am a fish nut! I can help you with most diseases, and have experience in setting up a tank. I can tell you tricks on keeping your water alkaline without products. I also speak and write french. I have experience with salt water fish, but would rather not get into that field. Please when writing to me, give me detailed information. The size of your tank, your water chemistry, etc. The more I know, the more I can help you. I cannot guess at what you have, so please give me information and I will do my outmost to help you with any question you ask me. Please do not ask me questions on Goldfish, mollies, platies, and guppies. Lynda

Experience
I have worked in Petshops in the fish department...was Manager in two...and alot of my experience came from my home where I had 26 aquariums from 20 gallons to 200 gallons.

Publications
I have a MSN group but it has nothing to do with fish

Education/Credentials
I have finished high school, and went to college, in accounting

Past/Present Clients
Too many to mention

You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Pet Fish > Fish > jack dempsey and green terror "dancing?"

Fish - jack dempsey and green terror "dancing?"

Expert: Lynda - 11/1/2009

Question
i have a green terror and a dempsey in a 55gal. one of them will swim up to the other and stand side by side and in opposite direction bob from side to side. either of them will stop and swim backwards into the other. or theyll smack the back fins like there dancin or giving each other a high five. some times between all this dancing one of them will gently poke the others belly. the dempsey will chase the green terror very briefly, but its a slow chase. the dempsey will flare but its barely. youd have to be right on top of him to notice. the last thing they do is swim side by side and hover next to each other, kinda like one is wondering what the other is looking at. it seems kinda playfull but im not sure. i dont know if i should be worried and find a home for someone.

Answer
Hello Jeremy,
These fish are two very territorial, and aggressive fish. They would need a bigger tank. The green terror would need a 55 gallon all to himself, and so would the Jack Dempsey. This means that they should have 120 gallons of water, and more is better. They are not playing, and I would surely remove one of them. When buying fish with names like these, we must always read up on them to make sure we have the right amount of space to provide them with a nice home. They are true to their names, and will kill without hesitation. There is not enough room in a 55 gallon tank for them to make their territory, and one will surely injure the other. Please find one of them a good home. The petshops who sell these fish should inform the customer before selling fish to them. Most don't care, it is only the buck that counts. These fish get very big, and when they are kept in tanks too small for them, their growth is staunted, their internal organs have no place to grow, and they die a horrible death.
No, Jeremy, I'm sorry to tell you these fish are not dancing. They are displaying anger, and it is a question of territory. Please find one of them a good home.
Hope this helps
Lynda

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