Jack Dempsey
Rocio octofasciata
- Tank length
- 120 cmabout 4 ft (47 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 22–30 °C72–86 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 20 cm8 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
Becomes territorial and digs as it matures; needs a large tank with caves and only robust, similar-sized tankmates.Becomes territorial and digs as it matures; needs a large tank with caves and only robust, similar-sized tankmates.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Jack DempseyAlligator gar may eat Jack Dempsey
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Jack DempseyArapaima may eat Jack Dempsey
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Jack DempseyAsian arowana may eat Jack Dempsey
- Bullseye snakehead
Bullseye snakehead may eat Jack DempseyBullseye snakehead may eat Jack Dempsey
- Channel catfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Clown knifefish
Clown knifefish may eat Jack DempseyClown knifefish may eat Jack Dempsey
- Cuban gar
Cuban gar may eat Jack DempseyCuban gar may eat Jack Dempsey
- Dourada
Dourada may eat Jack DempseyDourada may eat Jack Dempsey
- Fire eel
Fire eel may eat Jack DempseyFire eel may eat Jack Dempsey
- Florida gar
Florida gar may eat Jack DempseyFlorida gar may eat Jack Dempsey
- Giant wolf fish
Giant wolf fish may eat Jack DempseyGiant wolf fish may eat Jack Dempsey
- Indonesian snakehead
Indonesian snakehead may eat Jack DempseyIndonesian snakehead may eat Jack Dempsey
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 22–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.5–7.8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | Atlantic slope of southern Mexico to Honduras | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | aggressive | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 10–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 18 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 120 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |