A. paucisquamis female?

[blueblue]

I always find that A. paucisquamis is a species that
there are many "hidden male fish" which behave like female
fish in a batch of fish.

For the following A. paucisquamis, how likely could it be a female?
It is already 3cm long, and there are prominent yellow markings
on the upper and lower parts of the caudal fin. Its caudal fin is round.
Thanks.

 

[Peter Lovett1]

Hi blueblue

I believe I recieved a similar shipment to the fish that you have and if they are the fish in your picture is a A. Pulchra and not a A. paucisquamis.

I would however like to know how to tell a female A. paucisquamis from a male.

Regards,

Peter

 

[blueblue]

Hi Peter, thanks for your comments; for this fish, the picture is not well-taken while i am very sure that the fish is an A. paucisquamis (it has two horizontal bands across the body most of the time)...

For A. paucisquamis, female A. paucisquamis has shorter and darker ventral fins than male; female A. paucisquamis has a round (to slightly truncate) caudal fin. The body shape of female A. paucisquamis is usually "less slim" compared to the male A. paucisquamis... Male A. paucisquamis has a lyrate caudal fin.

Hi blueblue

I believe I recieved a similar shipment to the fish that you have and if they are the fish in your picture is a A. Pulchra and not a A. paucisquamis.

I would however like to know how to tell a female A. paucisquamis from a male.

Regards,

Peter

 

[Peter Lovett1]

Hi Blueblue

thought you may like to see the paucisquamis i recieved

 

[blueblue]

Thanks Peter

Here is the old post of one of my paucisquamis,
http://forum.apistogramma.com/showthread.php?t=3664
comparing to yours, it looks different in colour; in fact,
there are really many different forms of paucisquamis, even in the same locality, we can find many different color forms of it.

Back to my question, please find some clearer photos of the
fish in my first post above again, it is definitely a paucisquamis;
do you think it is a female or a male?

 

[Mike Wise]

Hard to say. How large/old is this fish? Based on the lack of a large amount of black on the ventral fins, I would say it is a male. Paucisquamis-complex females typically have mostly black ventral fins.

 

[blueblue]

Hard to say. How large/old is this fish? Based on the lack of a large amount of black on the ventral fins, I would say it is a male. Paucisquamis-complex females typically have mostly black ventral fins.

Thanks Mike. It is 3cm long. Well, on one hand, its ventral fins are NOT that black; but on the other hand, it is short and is also a little bit black occasionally... its caudal fin is round. I myself also think that it is hard to say and hence i'd like to seek more opinions here

 

[Mike Wise]

At 3 cm, it is only half grown. I am willing to bet that it will develop long ventrals & a double-tipped lyretail in about 2 month.

 

[blueblue]

At 3 cm, it is only half grown. I am willing to bet that it will develop long ventrals & a double-tipped lyretail in about 2 month.

Thanks much Mike, and i will keep a close eye on it

By the way, have you ever seen a female A. paucisquamis with red/orange markings on the top and bottom parts of the caudal fin? I ask this question because, despite the popularity of this fish in Hong Kong, most hobbyists i know have never seen a female A. paucisquamis with this kind of markings (as the one in the photos)... it is interesting as it could be a way to distinguish male and female paucisquamis if this marking tends to appear only in male fish!!

 

[Mike Wise]

I cannot remember seeing photos of females with color in their fins. In all honesty, I have never seen a live A. paucisquamis. This fish almost never comes into the USA - particularly Denver.

 

[blueblue]

I cannot remember seeing photos of females with color in their fins. In all honesty, I have never seen a live A. paucisquamis. This fish almost never comes into the USA - particularly Denver.

i see. Thanks Mike.

 

[blueblue]

Hi Mike, when i observed the fish this morning, i found that you're right!!
This paucisquamis is a male fish!! Will update you with the photo later.
Cheers

 

[blueblue]

A recent photo of it - it is obviously a young handsome male

http://www.aqugrass.com/phpBB2/files/p01_699.jpg