My 4 Inch Pink convict Male or Female ??

[split tank]

Hi just wanted opinions on if i have a male or female convict here i originally thought it was male until it developed lots of orange spots,

I know females have the famous orange markings on the belly area but this pink convict of mine has paired with the female in the lower part of the pic they dig pits together and i have seen the small

female laying eggs but they only last 2 1/2 days max until they disapear !

They have been through the spawning process together 7 times now! but nothing comes of it

 The large pink convict gets more aggressive and takes on the role of scaring off the other fish which

makes me think hes male, but the bright orange belly makes me wonder , and the fact that the eggs

 dont seem to be becoming fertilised

Any thoughts?

Sorry the pic is not the best off my phone , you can make out the orange markings but these are really bright in person

Cheers craig

[gerry]

Hard to tell with pink cons. What size is this fish as males will develop a slight naunchal hump when mature.

Two females can go through the motions and since the eggs are gone after a few days this may be the case here.

If it's a male/female mix you won't need to wait long to find out as they will get breeding right soon (cons = rabbits of fish world)

[split tank]

Hi thanks for reply , hes just over 4 inch he certainly acts male the way he swaggers around the tank,
i would have thought if it was female it too would have laid eggs by now . il have to wait and see
thanks

[gerry]

Do the eggs go dark (tan colour) before they eat them or white?

Dark means fertilizes and white doesn't. Obviously if they are dark your pinks a male and just needs time to get it right.

Two females don't always have both spawn in false breeding.

[split tank]

come to think of it the last time they laid eggs they did seem to look a slightly different colour more tan coloured all the previous times the eggs just looked white, so perhaps they are making progress, im sure before long il end up with more little cons then i know what to do with.
I might do an early water change and see if that triggers some action lol.
thanks

[gerry]

good luck then, make sure you have a means to get rid of a LOT of cons once they start