Help Sexing Cons

[Big Vine]

Picked em' up yesterday from LFS where they were behaving as a "pair," though I'm not certain that the larger one is a male---especially based on how colorful 'he' is. They were defending a territory together, but I saw no fry (so they could be lesbos).

The small number of orange dots on the 'male' could indicate that 'he' is in fact female, but I've had an even slightly larger con in the past with the same (very small amount) orange...yet he proved to be a male by spawning with a female to produce fry.

What do you think?

'Male' (~2 inches)

'Pair' Together

NOTE: The larger con has been chasing away the smaller one at every encounter...no fin damage or anything though...just 'passive' (for cons, anyway) chasing.

Thanks.
BV

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Very hard to tell. I want to say a 2 females (Just because of the color and orange), but its to hard to tell right now.

 

[SinisterKisses]

I answered you over in CF too, but basically I think your male is a female. You can see faint orange in the belly, and that means female. Colour in the fins means nothing when it comes to sexing - males can and often do have a lot of colour, especially around breeding time. But that orange is the deciding factor. Any chance of a closer pic, just so I can assure myself its not my eyes playing tricks?

 

[Big Vine]

I understand what you mean about the orange, but I'm not completely convinced that a very small presence of orange automatically means female.

First two pics are of the convict in question (who I'm hoping is male).

This last pic is of a proven male convict...notice the orange on the belly?

BV

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Really good pictures! Mind if i use some of these for the profiles?

If thats a proven male, you might have a valid argument....might have to just wait and see.

 

[SinisterKisses]

It actually looks more like camera flash and angles causing it then actual orange scales in the belly.

 

[Big Vine]

Could be the lighting/camera angle.
If I remember correctly, the orange was more apparent on the proven male during the earlier part of when I had him...seemed to disappear after a while. Maybe this will prove to be the case with my current 'male'?

Either way, I won't jump to any conclusions until I see fry!

Really good pictures! Mind if i use some of these for the profiles?

Sure thing, Matt.
I've actually got some better ones too...not to mention the originals for the ones I just posted (which are better resolution than anything I post on the forum).

Let me know.
BV

 

[Helena21]

I think hes a male.
Seeing your last male with some orange spots, just proves that every male can't be perfect with NO orange spots what so ever