Can rainbow sharks live with jack dempseys?

Verdict
No

No. Rainbow sharks and jack dempseys should not share a tank. Jack dempseys are aggressive and much bigger than rainbow sharks.

Rainbow sharkRainbow shark72–80°F · pH 6.5–7.5 Jack DempseyJack Dempsey72–86°F · pH 6.5–7.5

What to watch

What works

Water side by side

55°60°65°70°75°80°85°90°Both: 72–80°Rainbow shark 72–80°Jack Dempsey 72–86°
The green band is the temperature range both can live in.
456789Both: 6.5–7.5Rainbow shark 6.5–7.5Jack Dempsey 6.5–7.5
The green band is the pH both tolerate.

Size to scale

Rainbow shark · 6 inJack Dempsey · 10 in0"2"4"6"8"10"
Adult length in an aquarium. A fish can swallow anything that fits in its mouth, roughly a third to half its own length for predators.

Care at a glance

Rainbow sharkJack Dempsey
Temperature72–80 °F72–86 °F
pH6.5–7.56.5–7.5
Adult size6.0 in10.0 in
Minimum tank55 gal55 gal
TemperamentSemi-aggressiveAggressive
Swims atBottomMiddle
GroupOne per tankAlone or in pairs
DietOmnivoreCarnivore

Better tank mates for rainbow sharks

All rainbow shark tank mates

Better tank mates for jack dempseys

All jack dempsey tank mates

Questions

Can rainbow sharks live with jack dempseys?

No. Rainbow sharks and jack dempseys should not share a tank. Jack dempseys are aggressive and much bigger than rainbow sharks.

What temperature suits both rainbow sharks and jack dempseys?

72–80 °F. Rainbow sharks need 72–80 °F, jack dempseys need 72–86 °F.

What size tank do rainbow sharks and jack dempseys need together?

At least 55 gal, set by the rainbow shark. Add space for each extra fish.