Juvenile borelli opals

[Bl00dworm80]

Hi, I’m new to the forum but have wanted to
keep apistos for a while. I’ve picked up four juvenile borelli opals about 2.5-3cm but I’m really struggling to sex them. They are in a 90 gallon so catching them on camera is a bit of a challenge but I’ve done my best.

I really just want to confirm I have a mix of sexes. Are they too young to reliably sex?

 

[Mike Wise]

From your photos I would say that they are still juveniles and haven't shown sexual differences. I can't even say if they are Opal color morphs of A. borellii.

 

[Bl00dworm80]

Thanks Mike. They are the offspring of an ‘opal’ if the reliable judge of an opal variant is the red pigment in the facial markings along with blue colouration across the whole body. What should I be looking for as they grow out?

 

[anewbie]

There is no guarantee - it all comes down to the genetics of the parents and as farm raised fishes you know nothing about their genetic. They will be what they will be but it might take a year to full flush out.

 

[Mike Wise]

True, male Opals will show red spangles on the face and a primarily blue body. Sexing will need to wait until the males develop the red markings and extension on the unpaired fins.

 

[apisto_newb]

I have been keeping and breeding apistogramma borelli for going on 3 years now. Looking at your video and pictures, I see at least 3 females, most likely 4. One may be a male, the one that looks a little smaller top to bottom, but I'm still leaning female. Yours are showing some brighter yellows. That black stripe on the face together with the yellow color does it for me. I just have a feel for it based on probably 100 or so I've watched grow up.

I almost always end up with way more males than females, probably 4 to 1 ratio. I tried raising the water temp up to 75F, the upper end of where I'm comfortable, on this last batch and the ratio got better, but still many more males.