Sneaker male or female? help please

[Ddraig23]

Hi all

This forum is a fantastic source of info for a newbie apistogramma enthusiast.

I need some advice...

I picked up a pair of cacatuoides . The male is definitely male. The female (sold as triple red) has some colouration to find, a very slight lyre to tail and the pectoral fins are coloured rather than black. I would be grateful for the advice of you all - female or sneaker male?


Many thanks
James

 

[MickeM]

Hi James+all..

I guess this is a male (young!?).. but.. I am not 100% sure ..

These are my thoughts..

- Colors on the analfin + dorsalfin are a little "to much" for a female.., and also elongated in shape..

- The pelvic fins looks like they are a little bit "chewed on"...(by a dominant male ?) + the pelvicfins are colorful.. but not blackned ..(like on a female)

Strains/forms of cacatuoides bred for many generations can be really colorful though... and then even females..i!!!

/ Micke

 

[Ddraig23]

Thanks Micke
I'm leaning that way too but will see what others think also....

James

 

[Mike Wise]

Domestic color strains are always a problem to sex. Females can show many masculine color and fin features to some extent. Personally, I wouldn't have bought this fish. Judging from the size of the eye compared to the size of the head, it looks stunted. Stunted fish still breed fine so not a problem. My concern is the seemingly deformed ventral fins, which is common in highly inbred apistos.

 

[Ddraig23]

Thanks Mike.
I had a word with the LFS earlier and they swapped it for a fish I am confident is female. Your advice reassures me I did the right thing. LFS were happy to do a swap without any questions.