So, how do you tell apart the 2 sexes of a cichlid?

[xtr1gunf00lx]

to me, it looks like the head composition.. or like any other fishes, the anal fins?

 

[Katie217]

Shape of fins, vents, colouration are all ways of sexing

 

[JWright]

It depends _very_ much on the type of cichlid.

That's like asking how to tell apart the sexes of "birds". It's far too broad a category. The sexual dimorphisms of mbuna are very different from the sexual dimorphisms of angelfish.

 

[Lonewolfblue]

It depends _very_ much on the type of cichlid.

That's like asking how to tell apart the sexes of "birds". It's far too broad a category. The sexual dimorphisms of mbuna are very different from the sexual dimorphisms of angelfish.

And some cichlids are near impossible to sex outside of spawning.

 

[xtr1gunf00lx]

okay. i always don't know the name of my fishes. but the body color is blue and the fins are yellow.. but both are size different. when i got them they were the same size. the big one has a light bluish color then fades to yellow at the front at top fin. so does this mean its a male?

 

[Katie217]

The only fish that I can think of that you are describing is a mbuna called "red-top zebra" or gresheki (sp?)

 

[FishGeek]

Are you talking about acei cichlids??

 

[Cichlid-Man]

A picture would help, so many that match that description.

 

[JWright]

I'd have to agree with Katie, sounds like an M. greshakei.

In which case, telling the sexes apart is easy...

Male:

http://www.gcca.net/fom/fom_pix/Metriaclima_greshaki-M-2.jpg

Female:

http://www.akvariumas.lt/galerija/pseudotropheus_zebra/greshakei_female.jpg

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Are y'all colorblind? Thats orange not yellow.

I'd put my money down on Gephyrochromis acei (mostly), Otopharynx lithobates, or Cynotilapia afra "Cobue" as a streach.

Only a picture will let us know for sure.

 

[JWright]

Eh... Male greshakeis are a pretty common sight in "Assorted Cichlid" tanks in stores around here. I assume the same would be true elsewhere. Acei's on the other hand are a lot less common and more expensive around here (though I suppose that could just be geographical...)

~JW

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Ah, its the other way around here. Acei everywhere.

 

[xtr1gunf00lx]

definitely a Gephyrochromis acei. but, why do one of the fishes i see have an ick? mine has them too. i always thought its my water. but the other one doesnt have the "ick".

 

[JWright]

By "ick" do you mean the yellow/white spots on the anal fin? Those are egg spots and are part of the fish's normal coloration. They're a pretty common feature of mouth-brooding cichlids to "trick" the female during the mating process to fertilize the eggs.

Ick is much smaller than those spots. It looks a lot salt has been sprinkled on the fish.

~JW

 

[xtr1gunf00lx]

oh. i should put less salt then. thanks..


hrmm i been itching to wonder why the male cichlid is removing the gravel under the cave.. all i see is just the glass. is this part of the mating ritual?

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Its natural cichlid behavior. They are known to dig.