Adoketa: Female or male?

[awth]

I purchased this pair about 2months ago, the "female" was only about 5cm and the male was about 7cm. At the time of my purchase, I was confident that I have a pair, however, recently, me and my friends started to wonder if the female is truly a SHE. The male is now 8cm, and the "female" is about 7cm, which means the female gained 2cm while the male gained only 1cm in length. Do you think the "female" is too big size to be a "she"????

I understand the males' dorsal and anal fins are distinctly enlarged and pointed, and an extend ventral fins that may grow beyond the anal fins. However, "her" coloration is quite different to the male. Gosh, I don't know, I don't know, I am just too confused now......... please help, thank you very very much!!

P.S. I attached quite a few pics for your comments, it may take a while to load.

Male

Female

 

[Mike Wise]

I think you have a pair. Most males of Ivanacara adoketa will not let another male live in the same tank with them unless it is very large. The fish pictured in photos #3 & 4 looks like a female to me. It has much shorter ventral fins. Ivanacara adoketa actually is more closely related to the genus Laetacara. Like the dwarf acaras, the dorsal fin of the female is shorter (does not extend past the middle of the tail) and more noticable, the ventral fins of the female never extends past the start of the anal fin.

 

[awth]

Thank you, Mike!

Your reply certainly help me to gain back some of my confident. However, they are in the same tank but divided into two, since the male is beating up the "female". Even with the transparent plastic divider, the male would try to attack the "female" by smashing onto the divider.

I just need your confirmation once more to clear all my doubts, do you still think she is a female? I am so frustrated that I may have a male which looks like a female! :frown:

 

[Mike Wise]

I am not positive, but maybe 80% positive that you have a female. My female is always more dark than yours. Maybe it is because my female paired with a male and they swim together most of the time and never fight. If you do not have a bonded pair, it might be difficult to get them together to breed. If I had my choice, I would buy 6 or more juveniles and let them pair naturally.

 

[Arcadianred]

They certainly look like opposite sexes to me. In looking at my own quite a lot the female seems to have a much smaller and 'stubbier' face than the male whose head tends to 'fill' a little more with age. The pictures seem to reflect this to me or perhaps I am just seeing things:biggrin:

Mark

 

[awth]

thank you both~! I hope they would become a pair~!:redface:

 

[blueblue]

Dear Friend,

sorry for the late reply ... I believe that you have a pair.
Just one more thing to double confirm:
Do you find the "female" being darker on its back, especially during display? If yes, i am 99.9% sure that it is a female... (the remaining 0.1% goes to the probable but rare case that a male pretends to be a female...)

 

[awth]

Dear Friend,

sorry for the late reply ... I believe that you have a pair.
Just one more thing to double confirm:
Do you find the "female" being darker on its back, especially during display? If yes, i am 99.9% sure that it is a female... (the remaining 0.1% goes to the probable but rare case that a male pretends to be a female...)

Oh, my dear blueblue, you have no idea how glad I am to see your reply! As long as you are present, late appearance is forgiven.... :biggrin: :biggrin:

Oops, I didn't pay much attention to the "female" during her display. I will try to take some display pic ASAP. To be honest, there are still doubts in my mind that they are not a pair..... however, we will find out soon!

Thank you very very much!

 

[blueblue]

Thanks and i am glad to see you here, too. You know the aqugrass.com is
always down these days...

Looking forward to seeing your updated photos

Oh, my dear blueblue, you have no idea how glad I am to see your reply! As long as you are present, late appearance is forgiven.... :biggrin: :biggrin:

Oops, I didn't pay much attention to the "female" during her display. I will try to take some display pic ASAP. To be honest, there are still doubts in my mind that they are not a pair..... however, we will find out soon!

Thank you very very much!