Gold rams - pair or 2 males

[demoura]

Hi,

I acquired 2 gold rams a month or so ago.
Expected to be a pair.
However, I am now suspicious that I have 2 males. They like to stay close to each other but frequently will flare to each other and some times engage in lip locking. One of them is larger and clearly the dominant.
Below some pictures

the 2 together

the "female" on the foreground

the male (the dominant one at least)

the "female"

another one of the "female"

 

[diibs]

Ime rams can be difficult (especially morphs) up until they are big enough to see their reproductive organs. Females ovipositor is larger, somewhat square, and points almost straight down. Males are narrow and tilt towards the tail of the fish. These are examples viewing the fish from the side. My advice is to search the web for some pics, I know there are good examples out there.

Looking at your pics a couple of the shots of your "female" I can make out what looks like it may be an ovipositor, but they may be a little small yet.

Hope this helps

 

[diibs]

Also in the very first pic of both fish. It looks like the fish on the right is male, the left one female.

I could very well be wrong, I am not as greatly experienced as some of the members here. Im sure someone will chime in.

 

[Mike Wise]

How large are these fish? I agree with diibs, it's hard to sex young Rams of color morphs that don't show dark markings. BTW as a dwarf cichlid judge at many ACA conventions, I have to say that your fish are not 'show quality'. The head profile is quite deformed. Still, if you like their looks, that all that matters.