Can Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye and Jack Dempsey Live Together?

Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye is a peaceful species (2/10), while Jack Dempsey is semi-aggressive (8/10). This notable difference means Jack Dempsey may occasionally assert dominance over Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye.

Large aggression gap (6 points) between Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye and Jack Dempsey increases stress risk for the more peaceful fish.

Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye and Jack Dempsey both frequent the Middle (Open Water) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

There is a critical concern: the Nano / Bite-sized (Predation Risk) behaviour of one fish directly conflicts with the Piscivore (Eats small/nano fish) trait of the other — piscivorous fish will prey on nano-sized tank mates..

Worth noting: Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 22°C and 28°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 25.0°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 5–15 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range. An aquarium test kit is recommended for monitoring.

To house Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye and Jack Dempsey together, plan for an aquarium of at least 240 litres with a minimum length of 120 cm. This accounts for the larger species' space requirements with an additional 20 % buffer to reduce territorial tension.

Providing a mix of open swimming space and sheltered areas with rocks, driftwood, or plants will keep both species comfortable and allow natural behaviour.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Plants - Densely covered, Plants - Floating, Leaf Litter/Blackwater, Sand (Sifters), Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels). Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Note a potential conflict in setup requirements: Jack Dempsey is a plant destroyer, which conflicts with Gertrude's Spotted Blue-eye's requirement for live plants. Compromise where possible or prioritise the more critical need.

Both species do well with moderate (standard) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.