Ramirezi

[Teodor Macovei]

Hello!
I need a hand sexing these 2 ramirezi. They were bought from my local petshop, both from the same tank labeled as Mikrogeophagus ramirezi.
In the first 2 photos is what I believe a female electric blue, of about 4cm in length. In the other 2 photos I think it's a male German blue of about 5cm in length.

 

[Tph]

the last two are mikrogeophagus ramirezi. there are is no blue inside the black spot, so it's safe to assume they are males.
not sure about the electric version.

 

[deliriouz]

With a short first dorsal spine, the electric is probably a female. The tall first dorsal spine in males should be evident at 4cm.

 

[deliriouz]

Here's a photo of one of the juvenile males I bred..3.5cm about 3 months old

Tall dorsal spine is quite obvious already.

 

[Teodor Macovei]

Thank you both for the confirmation.
deliriouz the difference is obvious in the dorsal spine, but are there any other "signs" to help sexing them out? I've read on various sites/forums but what I find valid on one is not valid on another and so on... For example the end of the dorsal spine and the anal fin is round in females and more pointed in males, or that in females the dorsal spine and the anal fin don't go further than the start of the tail, but in males do, but these rules are not always valid from what I've seen around. That's why I'm a bit confused, not that I'm hoping to have fry in the community tank, just for my curiosity.

 

[deliriouz]

I have got 4 pairs of electric blues breeding at the moment. Unlike the normal gbr, the 1st dorsal spine is consistently tall in the electrics. I find these easier to sex than gbrs.