Jack Dempsey Tank Mates
Short answer: the best jack dempsey tank mates are . Jack Dempseys need 68–86 °F (20–30 °C), pH 6.5–8 and at least 75 gallons.
Jack Dempsey care at a glance
| Adult size | 9.8 in (25 cm) |
| Minimum tank | 75 US gallons |
| Temperature | 68–86 °F (20–30 °C) |
| pH | 6.5–8 |
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Swims in | All levels |
| Group size | Can be kept singly or in pairs |
| Care level | Easy |
gallon tank
✅ Compatible tank mates (0)
⚠️ Possible with caution (0)
- None
❌ Not recommended (71)
- Cherry shrimp — Jack Dempsey will hunt and eat cherry shrimp.
- Betta fish — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat betta fish (7 cm).
- Dwarf gourami — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat dwarf gourami (9 cm).
- Guppy — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat guppy (6 cm).
- Bristlenose pleco — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful bristlenose pleco.
- Fancy goldfish — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful fancy goldfish.
- Harlequin rasbora — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat harlequin rasbora (5 cm).
- Molly — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat molly (10 cm).
- Neon tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat neon tetra (3.5 cm).
- Platy — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat platy (6 cm).
- Tiger barb — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat tiger barb (7 cm).
- Angelfish — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and much larger than angelfish; it will bully or injure it.
- Oscar — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Nerite snail — Jack Dempsey eats snails.
- Pea puffer — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat pea puffer (3 cm).
- Amano shrimp — Jack Dempsey will hunt and eat Amano shrimp.
- Celestial pearl danio — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat celestial pearl danio (2.5 cm).
- Chili rasbora — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat chili rasbora (2 cm).
- Ember tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat ember tetra (2 cm).
- Endler's livebearer — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat Endler's livebearer (3 cm).
- Mystery snail — Jack Dempsey eats snails.
- Otocinclus — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat otocinclus (4 cm).
- Panda cory — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat panda cory (5 cm).
- Black skirt tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat black skirt tetra (6 cm).
- Bronze cory — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat bronze cory (7.5 cm).
- Cardinal tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat cardinal tetra (3.5 cm).
- Cherry barb — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat cherry barb (5 cm).
- German blue ram — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat German blue ram (5 cm).
- Glowlight tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat glowlight tetra (4 cm).
- Honey gourami — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat honey gourami (5.5 cm).
- Kuhli loach — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat kuhli loach (10 cm).
- Rummy nose tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat rummy nose tetra (5 cm).
- Serpae tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat serpae tetra (4.5 cm).
- White cloud mountain minnow — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat white cloud mountain minnow (4 cm).
- Zebra danio — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat zebra danio (5 cm).
- Kribensis — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat kribensis (10 cm).
- Pearl gourami — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful pearl gourami.
- Swordtail — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and much larger than swordtail; it will bully or injure it.
- Three spot gourami — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and much larger than three spot gourami; it will bully or injure it.
- Electric yellow cichlid — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat electric yellow cichlid (10 cm).
- Discus — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful discus.
- Rainbow shark — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and much larger than rainbow shark; it will bully or injure it.
- Red tail shark — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and much larger than red tail shark; it will bully or injure it.
- Siamese algae eater — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful Siamese algae eater.
- Common pleco — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful common pleco.
- Clown loach — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful clown loach.
- Pygmy cory — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat pygmy cory (3 cm).
- Sparkling gourami — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat sparkling gourami (4 cm).
- Black neon tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat black neon tetra (4 cm).
- Bloodfin tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat bloodfin tetra (5.5 cm).
- Cockatoo dwarf cichlid — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat cockatoo dwarf cichlid (8 cm).
- Dwarf neon rainbowfish — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat dwarf neon rainbowfish (8 cm).
- Forktail blue-eye — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat forktail blue-eye (6 cm).
- Glass catfish — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat glass catfish (6.5 cm).
- Lemon tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat lemon tetra (5 cm).
- Paradise fish — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat paradise fish (10 cm).
- Peppered cory — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat peppered cory (7 cm).
- Sterbai cory — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat sterbai cory (7 cm).
- X-ray tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat X-ray tetra (4.5 cm).
- Buenos Aires tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat Buenos Aires tetra (7 cm).
- Congo tetra — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat Congo tetra (8.5 cm).
- Convict cichlid — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Gold barb — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat gold barb (7.5 cm).
- Odessa barb — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat Odessa barb (6 cm).
- Rosy barb — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful rosy barb.
- Upside-down catfish — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat upside-down catfish (10 cm).
- Firemouth cichlid — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and much larger than firemouth cichlid; it will bully or injure it.
- Boesemani rainbowfish — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful Boesemani rainbowfish.
- Bolivian ram — An adult Jack Dempsey (up to 25 cm) is big enough to eat Bolivian ram (8 cm).
- Chinese algae eater — Both are territorial and use the same part of the tank, so constant fights are likely.
- Bala shark — Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully peaceful bala shark.
How many Jack Dempseys per tank?
75 gal — see what else fits with our stocking calculator.
FAQ
What fish can live with Jack Dempseys?
Good matches include . They share a temperature range with Jack Dempseys (68–86 °F (20–30 °C)), are a similar temperament, and are not big enough to eat each other or nip fins.
What fish should not live with Jack Dempseys?
Avoid Cherry shrimp, Betta fish, Dwarf gourami, Guppy, Bristlenose pleco, Fancy goldfish.
What size tank do Jack Dempseys need?
We recommend at least 75 US gallons for one jack dempsey, more if you add tank mates.
Can Jack Dempseys live alone?
Yes. Jack Dempseys do not need a group, though they can be kept with compatible tank mates.
Note: Compatibility depends on individual temperament, tank size, decor and how fish are introduced. Our verdicts use conservative rules applied to published care data (see methodology). They are guidance, not a guarantee. Quarantine new fish and watch for chasing, torn fins or hiding.