Author Topic: Male or female cichlids (Read 1355 times)

pinkkiwi1230 · « **on:** February 13, 2016, 04:58:32 am »

I have bought a few cichlids for my 38 gallon tank. I been trying to figure out the sex of these things. I'm gone online and researched details so I figured maybe I can get some expert eyes on it. Some pictures might be of the same fish but it's really hard to get a clear picture cause they move so much.

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pinkkiwi1230 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2016, 05:01:28 am »

More pictures

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pinkkiwi1230 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2016, 05:03:37 am »

I know males are supposed to be brighter and have a yellow dot on the bottom fin... but the blue ones are bright with no dot.

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pinkkiwi1230 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2016, 05:04:49 am »

Is this one a female. She's dull in color and not yellow dot

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plankton · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2016, 09:41:28 am »

I'll move this to Rift Lakes, then the cichlid keepers can help.

I'm not a cichlid expert, but I'd say the yellows are yellow labs and the blues with stripes are zebras, other than that, no chance....

pinkkiwi1230 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2016, 11:51:19 am »

Lol thank you

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mbuna_matt · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2016, 04:48:55 pm »

Some belting fish there !

The blue / black bars are Psuedotropheus Lobardoi, all the fry of this species are this blue / black colour. As the males mature they will go a strong buttercup yellow. Sadly you will be unlikely to be able to keep 2 males together as they are really massively intolerant of competition (been there and brought the second tank!)

The yellow fish with black tinges to the dorsal are indeed yellow labs (Labidiochromis caeruleus) and these are a nightmare to sex out.

The blotchy fish (originally from an orange/black female, or OB for short) are some form of zebra cross, possibly originally Metriclima esthera.

Both yellow labs and the estherea will be fine kept together as they have a similar temperament. One of the estherea/crosses would look possibly to be a male carrying his own colour and the OB gene, this should become a truly stunning fish if this is the case. Male OB's have been described as marmalade cats - and they are both rare and sought after, a shame in this case that the species/genetics are probably a little muddled.

When you catch your fish you can try to vent them out, females will have a vent like to 0's ie " 0 - 0" males will be more like "0 - ."

But not easy with small fish, I have tried !

Hope this helps some.

Matt

mbuna_matt · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2016, 04:53:51 pm »

This was a wild caught marmalade cat (Metriclima zebra "gold" from lions cove) we had (on loan) at the Aquatics live event. From memory he was brought for 3 figures........

Matt

pinkkiwi1230 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2016, 05:15:41 pm »

I'm not even sure what venting is lol. I'm very new to this.

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Mol_PMB · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2016, 11:38:08 pm »

Venting is holding a fish out of the water and looking at its naughty bits. Easier said than done!

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mbuna_matt · « **Reply #10 on:** February 15, 2016, 08:39:45 pm »

A wet slippery fish in one hand that won't stay still as its upside-down and a magnifying glass in the other, not something I would try too often; only in extremis!

Matt

Stephen · « **Reply #11 on:** February 15, 2016, 08:49:22 pm »

Soft water and African lake cichlids .. they do not go together.

How did you cycle the tank?

What décor do you have for these cichlids?

pinkkiwi1230 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2016, 05:00:11 am »

It's a temporary tank til I get theirs set up. I bought a 55 gallon and dint know about the cycle phase. So this has been a nightmare lately

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Stephen · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2016, 09:36:40 am »

Would it not be better practice to get the tank set up and get the water right before purchasing fish?

kingkyoga · « **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2016, 09:19:02 pm »

I'm sure she learned this by now....lol

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Author Topic: Male or female cichlids (Read 1355 times)

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