A little help please

[Aquatic_Adam]

Hey all,

I recently got 2 Apisto Gibbiceps from an auction. They were sold as a pair, although now that they've been in my tank for a bit, I'm not so sure. I have witnessed quite a bit of chasing and tail slapping. A sign of hate, or of love?

Can anyone explain the sexual dimorphism of Gibbiceps to me? I would love to move the smaller (presumed female) Apisto out if it is actually a male. Nobody wants a dead Apisto

 

[Aquatic_Adam]

I'll try to upload some pictures tomorrow for you all, I know it should help.

 

[Aquatic_Adam]

Supposed Female Gibbiceps?

Supposed Male Gibiceps?

 

[Aquatic_Adam]

Sorry for the bad picture on the supposed male, my iPhone isn't always the greatest

As stated, Ive witnessed tail slapping from the supposed male on the supposed female followed by chasing. The supposed male has staked out a hole under my driftwood and patrols it constantly. Whenever the supposed male sees the supposed female, it almost always results in a chase. Please advise

 

[Aquatic_Adam]

Please?

 

[Mike Wise]

I can't see much on the photos. The best way to separate the sexes in A. gibbiceps is to look at the tail. If they are sexually mature, males will show 2 short tips (1 top and 1 bottom) on the caudal fin. Males also show dark stripes that parallel the rays of the caudal fin; females have no markings on the caudal. How large are your fish?

 

[Aquatic_Adam]

I have noticed a lyretail on the bigger fish (we will call it A, it is the supposed male in this situation).

I cannot tell with B. It does not have its tail extended most of the time.

Apisto A is decidely bigger at maybe 2.5 inches while Apisto B is about 1.5.

I have a sneaking suspicion that I have a juvenile male in my midst but I hope that is not the case.

Thank you for responding, I was beginning to despair.

 

[Aquatic_Adam]

Here's a few more pictures, moved the supposed female to a 10g with some Pencilfish.

Supposed female, or juvenile male?

Confirmed male through existance of lyretail and coloration

 

[Mike Wise]

My guess is that fish B (first photo) is a female. The tail is still rounded. At 1.5"/3.5cm I would expect a male to start developing a squared-off caudal fin. This fish also shows very little metallic blue on the face compared to a male. Time will tell.