Jack Dempsey
Rocio octofasciata
Cichlidae
About
The Jack Dempsey is a stocky, boldly patterned Central American cichlid from the warm, weedy, mud-bottomed canals and slow lower river valleys running from southern Mexico down into Honduras. Named after the hard-hitting boxing champion for its pugnacious streak, it is hardy and long-lived but genuinely aggressive and strongly territorial, especially once it matures or pairs off to spawn. It is a substrate spawner that digs constantly, uproots plants and will hunt any tankmate small enough to swallow.
Care
Give a single fish or a bonded pair a long tank of at least 250 L (120 cm base) with sand, sturdy rockwork and caves for territory boundaries, plus strong filtration and weekly water changes. House only with robust, similarly sized tankmates and expect heightened aggression when breeding.
Diet
Predatory carnivore that eats worms, crustaceans, insects and small fish. Staple on a quality cichlid pellet and supplement with frozen or live bloodworm, mosquito larvae, prawn and earthworm; keep portions measured.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (71)
Avoid (50)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.