A.Cacatuoides ??? Is it a female..

[ste12000]

Hi all, iv bought a new pair of dwarf cichlids..Apistogramma Cacatuoides-Triple red..

In the shop they looked like male and female, back home for a day and a few pics later i am beginning to wonder..Have a look at the pics, The male is obviously a male but females are not suppost to have extentions to their dorsal fins? she? also looks like she has a slight lyretail when it is suppost to be round?
Cacatuoides are nearly exclusivley captive bred and the Triple red strains(Red in dorsal, caudal and anal fins) are line bred aquarium stock, do you think the strain is starting to loose some female features or do we think this is a subdominant male???

I am going back to the shop for a longer look in the tank but thought id run it past you guys first.. I have included some clear pics and a video link.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KFneVKi3p1Y

FEMALE??

MALE

 

[Mike Wise]

How large is the female fish?

 

[ste12000]

The female is around an inch and three quarters.. The male is about an inch bigger and stockier..My general feeling is that it is a female..

 

[Mike Wise]

At 1¾"/4 cm I would expect that a young male would show more development of the dorsal and caudal tips. I'd say that you have a nice female.

 

[ste12000]

Thanks Mike, excellent as usual..After watching them for some time tonight i am almost 100% she is a she...They are not flirting and she tends to hang back when the male is at the front, however he is showing of and tail beating against her, he also lets her eat right next to him so fingers crossed we are correct..
Many thanks..