Sexing Cichlids?

[PICTUS CAT]

I have always wondered how can you tell a female Cichlid from a male Cichlid. I'am talking about the African Electric lemon yellow.If you can tell me that maybe you could also help me how to breed them?
-thanks-

 

[Toam]

The only method that I know of, and it applies to lake malawi cichlids, is the egg spots on the anal fin, the male has the egg spots to entice the female into swallowing a mouthful of his stuff during mating. I'm not sure if this applies to your cichlid variety though, so you will want to investigate further I'm sure.

 

[PICTUS CAT]

Well thanks for your help, at least i'am getting somewhere.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

And even then, these days the egg spots are not a 100% method.

As for yellow labs, its tough. Very tough. Most of the time, note the word most, males have more black on their dorsal fin then the females. The only sure fire way is to either see them breed or see a female holding eggs.

 

[FreddyJ]

C-man is right on about the egg spots. I was pretty certain I had four males (yikes) because they all had egg spots (I'm talking elec. yellows here) and then on the fourth one was holding eggs! The males grow quite a bit faster than the females. That's the only clear distinction I have noticed. Some websites say that males have a black line through their eyes, but that doesn't seem to hold much truth either. Good luck!

 

[Milo]

Not sure how acurate this is but the LFS where i live told me that males have a black strip on their upper and lower fin while the female only has on the upper.

 

[wayne]

Even when I bred them I couldn't sex them - the black fins thing is rubbish.

 

[JWright]

Yeah... just stick a bunch in a tank and let nature take its course (a biggish tank would be a good idea)

You can usually spot the females when they're holding, and if you see a lab "quivering", it's a pretty good indication it's a male trying to mate.

As far as physical differences go... good luck.

 

[PICTUS CAT]

Well thanks i'am actually getting somewere, i think i'am going to buy about 5 yellow labs in a 29 gallon and hope for the best.

 

[JWright]

That's a lot of labs for a smallish tank....

 

[PICTUS CAT]

Then I stick them in a 55 thanks

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Ehh. I have a small "colony" in my 29gal. No doubt it can be done. Of course a 55gal is better and what i would reccommend....but a 29gal can be done.