Cichlids · Rocio

Jack Dempsey

Rocio octofasciata · Atlantic slope, S Mexico (Papaloapan) to Honduras (Ulúa)

Photo: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist

The Jack Dempsey (Rocio octofasciata) is a freshwater fish from Atlantic slope, S Mexico (Papaloapan) to Honduras (Ulúa), where it lives in river habitat. Adults reach about 20 cm (7.9 in). Keep it at 20–30 °C (68–86 °F) and pH 6.5–8, in calm water. It is aggressive and does best in a group of 2 or more. It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

At a glance

Water temperature

20–30 °C 68–86 °F

6.5–8 neutral water

Adult size

20 cm 7.9 in

Swims ≈

Mid-water mostly in open water

Keep together

2 or more a shoal feels safe

Current

Calm still or slow water

Food

Eats most foods

Temperament ≈

Aggressive

Where it comes from

Home water

Atlantic slope, S Mexico (Papaloapan) to Honduras (Ulúa)

Lives in river habitat.

Shaded: the countries it comes from. Map: Natural Earth.

Jack Dempsey

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Cichlids · RocioLC

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

Jack Dempsey

Rocio octofasciata

Atlantic slope, S Mexico (Papaloapan) to Honduras (Ulúa) · river

Temperature: 20–30°C
pH: 6.5–8
Adult size: 8 in · 20 cm
Flow: Calm
Swims: Mid-water
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Group: 2+
Status in the wild: Least concern

Predator. Eats any fish that fits in its mouth.

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savethelittlefish.org/species/jack-dempsey/

Photo: Bernard DUPONT, CC BY 4.0

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Sources

We name everyone whose work is on this page. Where sources disagree, we show the best one: a scientific paper first, then aquarium references.

Temperature, ph, adult size, habitat, group size, temperament, diet, behaviour, home range Seriously Fish: Rocio octofasciata profile Website
Water flow, swim level, conservation status, home range, ph, behaviour, temperature FishBase: Rocio octofasciata summary Website Says: pH ?–8; ?–30 °C
Photo Bernard DUPONT, CC BY 4.0 iNaturalist
Map of rivers and countries Natural Earth public domain map data Map

Know a good source for this fish? Tell us

Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with low flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

Good together

Keep apart

Small enough to be eaten

Amano shrimp Betta (Siamese fighting fish)Black skirt tetra Borelli's dwarf cichlid Cardinal tetra Celestial pearl danio Cherry barb
Aggressive: jack dempsey, it

Auratus

In the hobby

Where to find it

No store or breeder we know of has it right now.

Run a store? List the fish you usually have. Breed fish? List your fry.

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Jack Dempsey get?

About 20 cm (7.9 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Jack Dempsey need?

20–30 °C (68–86 °F).

What pH does a Jack Dempsey need?

pH 6.5–8.

Does a Jack Dempsey need to be kept in a group?

Yes. Keep at least 2.

Is the Jack Dempsey aggressive?

Yes. It is aggressive and needs careful planning.

What does a Jack Dempsey eat?

It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

Where does the Jack Dempsey come from?

Atlantic slope, S Mexico (Papaloapan) to Honduras (Ulúa).

What fish can live with a Jack Dempsey?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Zebra (L046), Amano shrimp, Boeseman's rainbowfish, Bolivian ram.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	20	Sourced
Temperature max (°C)	30	Sourced
pH min	6.5	Sourced
pH max	8	Sourced
Adult size (cm)	20	Sourced
Flow	Low	Sourced
Swim level (top / middle / bottom)	middle	Estimate
Habitat	river	Estimate
Smallest happy group	2	Sourced
Temperament	Aggressive	Estimate
Diet	Omnivore	Sourced
Behaviour tags	eats_small_fish	Sourced

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.