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Jack Dempsey

Rocio octofasciata

Fish · family Cichlidae · order Cichliformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Typical length
8 in[3]

The Jack Dempsey (Rocio octofasciata) is a fish in the cichlid family[4]. NatureServe lists it as introduced, not native, in Florida[5].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Jack Dempsey a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. The fish is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. In Florida its state rank is SNA, and USGS lists it as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the country[7][8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Least concern
USGS nonindigenous aquatic species[8] Listed as exotic in parts of the US

Where Jack Dempsey lives

NatureServe records the Jack Dempsey as introduced, not native, in Florida[5]. USGS also treats it as an exotic, nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States[8]. GBIF observation records come most often from Florida, South Dakota, Utah, Maryland and Hawaii[9]. These records show where people report the fish, not how many there are[9].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: introduced, state rank SNAFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[7].
Show state ranks (1 states)
StateRankMeaning
FloridaSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe lists creek and low gradient habitat types for the Jack Dempsey[10]. In its home range it lives in springs and rivers[11]. In Florida it has been found in weedy canals and drainage ditches with mud or sand bottoms[11]. The fish lays its eggs on the bottom surface[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[10]

Size and diet

NatureServe records the adult diet as plant eating, or herbivore[12]. In Florida it seems to feed mostly on thread-like algae[13]. A typical length is 20 cm (8 in)[3]. The parents incubate the eggs and guard the young[14].

Trait Value
Typical length[3] 20 cm (8 in)
Food habits[12] Herbivore

When to look for it

GBIF observation records of the Jack Dempsey in the United States are most often from March, May and December[15]. These records reflect when people look and report, not how many fish there are[15]. The facts here do not describe seasonal activity.

January: 5 recordsJanFebruary: 6 recordsFebMarch: 21 recordsMarApril: 20 recordsAprMay: 33 recordsMayJune: 14 recordsJunJuly: 20 recordsJulAugust: 19 recordsAugSeptember: 21 recordsSepOctober: 7 recordsOctNovember: 4 recordsNovDecember: 36 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[15].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January5
February6
March21
April20
May33
June14
July20
August19
September21
October7
November4
December36

Where to see it

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, South Dakota, Utah, Maryland, Hawaii[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Jack Dempsey endangered?
No. It is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the Jack Dempsey live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as introduced, not native, in Florida[5]. GBIF records come most often from Florida, South Dakota, Utah, Maryland and Hawaii[9].
What does the Jack Dempsey eat?
NatureServe records it as an herbivore[12]. In Florida it seems to feed mainly on thread-like algae[13].
How big is the Jack Dempsey?
NatureServe records a typical length of 20 cm (8 in)[3].
When are Jack Dempsey fish reported?
GBIF records are most often from March, May and December[15]. This shows when people report them, not how many fish there are[15].

Facts and sources

  1. Jack Dempsey is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Jack Dempsey: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 20 cm (8 in). NatureServe Explorer
  4. Jack Dempsey (Rocio octofasciata) is a fish in the family Cichlidae, order Cichliformes. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe lists Jack Dempsey as introduced (not native) in: Florida. NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe state ranks for Jack Dempsey (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  8. USGS lists Jack Dempsey as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States (exotic). USGS NAS
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Jack Dempsey: Florida, South Dakota, Utah, Maryland, Hawaii. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. Habitat types NatureServe records for Jack Dempsey: Creek, Low gradient. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Jack Dempsey. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Jack Dempsey. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Jack Dempsey. NatureServe Explorer
  15. GBIF observation records of Jack Dempsey in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.