Apistogramma cacatuoides: do I have a pair? or two males?

[Fish Folk]

We've been enjoying a couple of Apistogramma cacatuoides, pictured here, for a month or so now. They are in a 20 gallon long tank along with a few silver-tip tetras and ghost shrimp. The big male is beautiful! But we are wondering about the other one. Is this a female? Or a non-dominant, "sneaker-male"? There is a touch of orange on the caudal fin (possible male?), but the ventral / pelvic fins are black (commonly female). The clear, dominant male does display, and gives a bit of chase now and then -- though nothing terribly aggressive. What are your thoughts?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
With the normal disclaimer that I'm rubbish at this, definitely a male and female.

cheers Darrel

 

[Fish Folk]

Thanks! We're really hoping so. Lots to learn here . . . hope to eventually raise some.

 

[Tappy4me]

Here's my male and female for comparison. I also thought my female may have been a sneaker Male! Saw them flirting this morning though, so pretty sure shes a female lol

 

[Fish Folk]

Beautiful! I like the orange on his fins. Are you hoping to raise fry?

 

[Tappy4me]

Her

Beautiful! I like the orange on his fins. Are you hoping to raise fry?

Thanks! I hope to! If the cories and plecos don't eat them haha.

 

[Fish Folk]

Gotcha! We put in a cave for our cacatuoides, but straight way our b-nose pleco called shotgun and moved in...

 

[Drayden Farci]

That's a pair. Yellow body color, marks on the abdomen, black on the front of the ventral fins and caudal fin, and smaller overall size.

 

[Fish Folk]

Thank you! Good tips. Hoping they'll warm up to parenting eventually.

 

[Uncle.Ned]

females of many apistogramma species have black chest fins

 

[Fish Folk]

Thanks! Yes, I think we've got a pair. They were getting "friendly" today. Saw the female in the cave with the male nearby (see pic)