Tank mates for Jack Dempseys

Good Compatible tank mates (3)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

• Oscar

  30 cm (11.8 in) · 75+ gal

• Green terror

  20 cm (7.9 in) · 80+ gal

• Jewel cichlid

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 40+ gal

Caution Possible, with care (27)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

• Angelfish · 29+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Angelfish can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
• Betta fish · 5+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey may eat bettas, especially young or small ones.
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Bettas can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
• Tiger barb · 29+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey may eat tiger barbs, especially young or small ones.
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Tiger barbs can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
• Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
• Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Blood parrot cichlids can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
• Chinese algae eater · 80+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey defends its patch of the bottom and may chase chinese algae eaters, which use the same area.
  • Chinese algae eater defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Jack Dempseys, which use the same area.
• Convict cichlid · 29+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey defends its patch of the bottom and may chase convict cichlids, which use the same area.
  • Convict cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Jack Dempseys, which use the same area.
• Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Electric blue acaras can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Jack Dempsey defends its patch of the bottom and may chase electric blue acaras, which use the same area.
  • Electric blue acara defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Jack Dempseys, which use the same area.
• Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Firemouth cichlids can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Jack Dempsey defends its patch of the bottom and may chase firemouth cichlids, which use the same area.
  • Firemouth cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Jack Dempseys, which use the same area.
• Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
• Kribensis · 29+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Kribensis can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Jack Dempsey defends its patch of the bottom and may chase kribensis, which use the same area.
  • Kribensis defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Jack Dempseys, which use the same area.
• Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Rainbow sharks can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Jack Dempsey defends its patch of the bottom and may chase rainbow sharks, which use the same area.
  • Rainbow shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Jack Dempseys, which use the same area.
• Red-tail shark · 75+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Red-tail sharks can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Jack Dempsey defends its patch of the bottom and may chase red-tail sharks, which use the same area.
  • Red-tail shark defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Jack Dempseys, which use the same area.
• Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Senegal bichirs, which use the same area.
• Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Three spot gouramis can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
• African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. African butterfly fish can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
• Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey may eat Agassiz's dwarf cichlids, especially young or small ones.
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Agassiz's dwarf cichlids can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Jack Dempsey defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Agassiz's dwarf cichlids, which use the same area.
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Jack Dempseys, which use the same area.
• Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
• Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey may eat buenos Aires tetras, especially young or small ones.
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Buenos Aires tetras can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
• Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey may eat cockatoo cichlids, especially young or small ones.
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Cockatoo cichlids can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
  • Jack Dempsey defends its patch of the bottom and may chase cockatoo cichlids, which use the same area.
  • Cockatoo cichlid defends its patch of the bottom and may chase Jack Dempseys, which use the same area.
• Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Jack Dempsey may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
• Golden wonder killifish · 20+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Golden wonder killifish can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
• Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Kissing gouramis can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
• Paradise fish · 20+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Paradise fish can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
• Severum · 55+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey is aggressive. Severums can hold their own only in a large tank with plenty of cover.
• Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
• Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
  • Jack Dempsey hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.

Avoid Bad tank mates (119)

• Bristlenose pleco: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bristlenose plecos.
• Bronze corydoras: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bronze corydoras.
• Cherry shrimp: Jack Dempsey eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
• Common goldfish: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common goldfish.
• Common pleco: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful common plecos.
• Dwarf gourami: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf gouramis.
• Fancy goldfish: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful fancy goldfish.
• Guppy: Jack Dempsey can eat guppies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful guppies.
• Neon tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful neon tetras.
• Nerite snail: Jack Dempsey eats snails, including nerite snails.
• Panda corydoras: Jack Dempsey can eat panda corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda corydoras.
• Zebra danio: Jack Dempsey can eat zebra danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra danios.
• African dwarf frog: Jack Dempsey can eat African dwarf frogs. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful African dwarf frogs.
• Assassin snail: Jack Dempsey eats snails, including assassin snails.
• Bala shark: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bala sharks.
• Black skirt tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat black skirt tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful black skirt tetras.
• Boesemani rainbowfish: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful boesemani rainbowfish.
• Cardinal tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat cardinal tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cardinal tetras.
• Celestial pearl danio: Jack Dempsey can eat celestial pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful celestial pearl danios.
• Cherry barb: Jack Dempsey can eat cherry barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful cherry barbs.
• Chili rasbora: Jack Dempsey can eat chili rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful chili rasboras.
• Clown loach: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown loaches.
• Denison barb: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful denison barbs.
• Discus: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful discus.
• Dojo loach: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dojo loaches.
• Dwarf neon rainbowfish: Jack Dempsey can eat dwarf neon rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf neon rainbowfish.
• Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Jack Dempseys don't belong in that setup.
• Ember tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat ember tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful ember tetras.
• German blue ram: Jack Dempsey can eat German blue rams: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful German blue rams.
• Glowlight tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat glowlight tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glowlight tetras.
• Harlequin rasbora: Jack Dempsey can eat harlequin rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful harlequin rasboras.
• Hillstream loach: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful hillstream loaches.
• Honey gourami: Jack Dempsey can eat honey gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful honey gouramis.
• Julii corydoras: Jack Dempsey can eat julii corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful julii corydoras.
• Kuhli loach: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful kuhli loaches.
• Malaysian trumpet snail: Jack Dempsey eats snails, including Malaysian trumpet snails.
• Molly: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful mollies.
• Mystery snail: Jack Dempsey eats snails, including mystery snails.
• Otocinclus: Jack Dempsey can eat otocinclus: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful otocinclus.
• Pea puffer: Jack Dempsey can eat pea puffers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
• Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Jack Dempseys don't belong in that setup.
• Pearl gourami: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful pearl gouramis.
• Peppered corydoras: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful peppered corydoras.
• Pictus catfish: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful pictus catfish.
• Platy: Jack Dempsey can eat platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful platies.
• Pygmy corydoras: Jack Dempsey can eat pygmy corydoras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful pygmy corydoras.
• Ramshorn snail: Jack Dempsey eats snails, including ramshorn snails.
• Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Jack Dempseys don't belong in that setup.
• Rosy barb: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rosy barbs.
• Rummy-nose tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat rummy-nose tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rummy-nose tetras.
• Siamese algae eater: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful siamese algae eaters.
• Silver dollar: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful silver dollars.
• Sterbai corydoras: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful sterbai corydoras.
• White cloud mountain minnow: Jack Dempsey can eat white cloud mountain minnows: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful white cloud mountain minnows.
• X-ray tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat x-ray tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful x-ray tetras.
• Yoyo loach: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful yoyo loaches.
• Black ghost knifefish: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful black ghost knifefish.
• Black neon tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat black neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful black neon tetras.
• Black phantom tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat black phantom tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful black phantom tetras.
• Bleeding heart tetra: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bleeding heart tetras.
• Bloodfin tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat bloodfin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bloodfin tetras.
• Bolivian ram: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Bolivian rams.
• Bumblebee catfish: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful bumblebee catfish.
• Clown killifish: Jack Dempsey can eat clown killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown killifish.
• Clown pleco: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful clown plecos.
• Congo tetra: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Congo tetras.
• Crystal red shrimp: Jack Dempsey eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
• Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Jack Dempseys don't belong in that setup.
• Diamond tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat diamond tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful diamond tetras.
• Dwarf chain loach: Jack Dempsey can eat dwarf chain loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf chain loaches.
• Emerald green corydoras: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful emerald green corydoras.
• Emperor tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat emperor tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful emperor tetras.
• Endler's livebearer: Jack Dempsey can eat Endler's livebearers: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful Endler's livebearers.
• Forktail blue-eye: Jack Dempsey can eat forktail blue-eyes: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful forktail blue-eyes.
• Frontosa: Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Jack Dempseys don't belong in that setup.
• Gardneri killifish: Jack Dempsey can eat gardneri killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
• Giant danio: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful giant danios.
• Glass catfish: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glass catfish.
• Gold barb: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful gold barbs.
• Head and tail light tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat head and tail light tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful head and tail light tetras.
• Kubotai rasbora: Jack Dempsey can eat kubotai rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful kubotai rasboras.
• Lambchop rasbora: Jack Dempsey can eat lambchop rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful lambchop rasboras.
• Lemon tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat lemon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful lemon tetras.
• Marbled hatchetfish: Jack Dempsey can eat marbled hatchetfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful marbled hatchetfish.
• Odessa barb: Jack Dempsey can eat odessa barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful odessa barbs.
• Panda garra: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful panda garras.
• Peacock gudgeon: Jack Dempsey can eat peacock gudgeons: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful peacock gudgeons.
• Penguin tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat penguin tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful penguin tetras.
• Rabbit snail: Jack Dempsey eats snails, including rabbit snails.
• Red rainbowfish: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful red rainbowfish.
• Ropefish: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful ropefish.
• Rosy loach: Jack Dempsey can eat rosy loaches: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rosy loaches.
• Rosy tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat rosy tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rosy tetras.
• Rubber lip pleco: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful rubber lip plecos.
• Scarlet badis: Jack Dempsey can eat scarlet badis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful scarlet badis.
• Scissortail rasbora: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful scissortail rasboras.
• Serpae tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat serpae tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
• Shell dweller cichlid: Jack Dempsey can eat shell dweller cichlids: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Jack Dempseys don't belong in that setup.
• Sparkling gourami: Jack Dempsey can eat sparkling gouramis: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful sparkling gouramis.
• Swordtail: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful swordtails.
• Threadfin rainbowfish: Jack Dempsey can eat threadfin rainbowfish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful threadfin rainbowfish.
• Tinfoil barb: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful tinfoil barbs.
• Turquoise rainbowfish: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful turquoise rainbowfish.
• Upside-down catfish: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful upside-down catfish.
• Zebra loach: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra loaches.
• Zebra pleco: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful zebra plecos.
• Black ruby barb: Jack Dempsey can eat black ruby barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful black ruby barbs.
• Checkerboard barb: Jack Dempsey can eat checkerboard barbs: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful checkerboard barbs.
• Dwarf rasbora: Jack Dempsey can eat dwarf rasboras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful dwarf rasboras.
• Flame tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat flame tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful flame tetras.
• Glowlight danio: Jack Dempsey can eat glowlight danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful glowlight danios.
• Green neon tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat green neon tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful green neon tetras.
• Keyhole cichlid: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful keyhole cichlids.
• Least killifish: Jack Dempsey can eat least killifish: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful least killifish.
• Moonlight gourami: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful moonlight gouramis.
• Pearl danio: Jack Dempsey can eat pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful pearl danios.
• Silvertip tetra: Jack Dempsey can eat silvertip tetras: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful silvertip tetras.
• Thick-lipped gourami: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful thick-lipped gouramis.
• Variatus platy: Jack Dempsey can eat variatus platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful variatus platies.