Borellii- Male or Female & Off swim

[RCC0424]

Wondering if I can get some help. Is this Borellii a male or female? How do I tell?
I’ve had a pair (thought m/f) for 3+ weeks. Local fish store told me I could keep them in hard water and after about a week this one started sitting in a vertical position all the time and hiding a lot. I since discovered they need soft water and have almond leaf and RO water in 20 gallon long. TDS is at 150 and temp is at 78. This guy/gal still hides a lot and swims funny. Still sits in vertical position when outside caves and is not getting lighter in color. Drags its back end when swimming. Thoughts?

 

[Mike Wise]

Looks like a young male to me. From its behavior it has a swim bladder problem. This is hard to treat. A. borellii is not really a softwater species. It adapts to most water value that are not extreme.

 

[RCC0424]

Thank you. Is it normal for the other male in the tank to try breeding still?
I suspected swim bladder and we tried to treat a few weeks ago. It seems to be swimming a bit more but still not like the other. Picture from last night.
We have very hard water. My cockatoos are doing great and spawned within a week of being put in tank. I got these guys at same time and was bummed not to see same happen.

 

[Mike Wise]

Healthy male will always look for breeding opportunities. Most apistos do not form pair bonds. BTW 150 ppm TDS is not hard water by any means. I would consider it only 'moderately hard'. Many populations of A. borellii live most of the year in similar water hardness in the Pantanal.