Female or male?

[lexi]

Is this the right section for requesting help with sexing?

Short version: is this a. cacatuoides super red a female? I was told she's a super red at least, she's always been more orange.

Edited to add - size the female(?) Is approx 1.5 to 1.75 inches. Bought as part of a male/female pair in February or late january. (The male died) The new male (?) in question was bought approx 4 weeks ago in a group of juveniles. About 1 -1.25 inches long. The other male bought with him is about 1.75 inches. The female bought with him is the smallest at .75 to 1 inch. These are my best guesstimates of size.

Long version/backstory: I have been under the impression that this is a really well colored female. After posting pictures of her recently in a Facebook group, most people have been saying that I'm wrong and it's a male. Seeing as I finally sourced more and added a male to the tank two days ago, I really want to be sure.

When I added the new little male there was a lot of that flaring and tail flicking dance, only a little chasing that I've seen. They investigated each other and swam around deciding on territory for awhile. He tends to hide mostly now but I do see him out and about occasionally. She seemed like she got yellower after putting him in but not as yellow as my other female who spawned and has fry right now.

The last 3 pictures are of the male (?) I added to her tank 2 days ago. I am second guessing everything now, except the pair that spawned. Lol Their gender is obvious enough at least!

 

[Mike Wise]

The problem with domestic red strains of A. cacatuoides is that the female develop many masculine traits (color, fins) that wild females do not. The size of the fish is typical for a mature female or young male, so it could be either. Give it 3 - 4 month. If it gets noticeably larger, then it is a male. If it breeds with your smaller male, then obviously it is a female.

 

[lexi]

The problem with domestic red strains of A. cacatuoides is that the female develop many masculine traits (color, fins) that wild females do not. The size of the fish is typical for a mature female or young male, so it could be either. Give it 3 - 4 month. If it gets noticeably larger, then it is a male. If it breeds with your smaller male, then obviously it is a female.

Thanks! So far they seem to be getting along and keeping to themselves. My biggest worry if they were indeed both males was that they'd fight and hurt each other but so far so good. *knock on wood* it's a pretty jungly, planted 20 long, with lots of cave and rock and driftwood hide options.