baenschi inka sleepers

[Tedstank]

It has been approx 3 weeks since I took the male from my group of immature inka 50 younglings. If there were any a sleeper males in the remaining group would he/they be showing by now?? or at least one or 2 trying to be a dominant fish? There is some color differences in some of them but nothing that appears to be male-ish. no colored border on the tail, etc. A couple of them seem to have a bit more blue showing but thats it. Is there any other way to tell in their markings? Can't much longer waste a 40 gal tank with 12
+ inka 50 females and my youngling Borelli's.
Any ideas out there???

 

[peterK]

Without photos it's almost impossible to say something. But if you did not keep them from larvae stadium in quite high pH, (about 7 I'd say), and low temp, there's high possibility that you have males within the group.

 

[ste12000]

How old are the youngsters?

Im breeding Baenschi at the minute and have fry at all sizes, you can usually tell the sexes at around half a inch by looking at the ventral fins, females have the black markings, males dont..At anything under a inch or so both sexes look very similar with both having blue on the sides. I use the ventral fin method and it works ok for me...

 

[Tedstank]

I have to guess that they are now 6 to 8 months old...I did not spawn them. Temp is at approx 78 F. I'll try the ventral fin check thing!!! Wouldn't mind having a back up pair and may put a couple of the females in my community tank for keepers. The male that I pulled is quite handsome and getting his long dorsal spines. Very tame, they both come up to me to eat...he will take worms from my hand.

 

[Bilbo]

I had some aggies that a sleeper male didnt come out til many months after and they were at least 18 months old.
I was sure at the time I had seen a sex change because it had been a happy tank of females for ages.