Spots on lower fin of Kenya

[30gallonman]

I have had my cichlids for about four months now, some longer then that. I have noticed on the Kenya there is a spot on the rear lower fin. Just wondered if anyone could give me some insight to what it is.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Orion]

If your talking about the one that is in the center of the photo those are egg spots, or dummy eggs. These are for breeding.

 

[30gallonman]

Yes that is what I was talking about. Does that mean that it is the male or female. I was told and have read that the males will be yellow when fully mature is that true as well?

 

[straitjacket]

Seeing that it has a considerable amount of yellow on it now, yes, it's safe to assume this fish a male.
Ideally M. lombardoi should exhibit a single well-defined eggspot on the anal fin of the male. He should turn yellow as he matures. Females should retain the blue juvenile coloration and exhibit no egg-spots.
Dominance plays a role in color change. Subdominant males may appear female until there is no one to pick on him or he outranks the dominant fish. Females may take on a yellow hue if being relentlessy pestered by a male. Unfortunately for some reason, perhaps inbreeding or hybridization, a number of tankbred M. lombardoi will show more than one eggspot, on either male or female.

 

[30gallonman]

Thank you for the info, I greatly appreciate it.

 

[straitjacket]

Any time.