I got another quetzel cichlid

[dempseyreed]

It's tail is a little beat up so I'm assuming it came into the LFS from another hobbyist's tank. We tried to vent sex it at the LFS but not skilled enough to make a good educated guess on sex. My other big quetzel seems to be excited about the new one and did a color change by turning dark on its back with some black and turning dark on its belly. I've always assumed my bigger quetzel is a female. So...anybody want to guess sex???

The new quetzel:

My biggest quetzel already in tank that I think is female. This is the color she changed to after new quetzel introduced:

My original quetzel before the new one was introduced:

 

[Frank Castle]

I'm not sure, but I have 2 also I'd like to sex one day....about 3" and 5". Nice collection fo fish u got there, Bud. Looks like a lot of the same species I keep. I like.

 

[dan518]

Very hard to sex, always found watching them and seeing how they interact is the easiest way

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Males will develop a more rounded raised cranial profile.
The males dorsal fin will also rise a little steeper towards the end of the fin than a females will.
Behaviour us also a good indication.

 

[dan518]

Males will develop a more rounded raised cranial profile.
The males dorsal fin will also rise a little steeper towards the end of the fin than a females will.
Behaviour us also a good indication.

What size can you start noticing the difference?

 

[Stanzzzz7]

What size can you start noticing the difference?

Around 5" it's subtle but you can tell.

 

[dan518]

Thanks, I have always struggled with most of the vieja sp

 

[Jonnyakawombell]

Hi is a nick name for this a, red head? Only I'm sure there's some in my LFS and there getting sold as red heads, or is a red head a different fish from the same family only they look almost identical

 

[Frank Castle]

Hi is a nick name for this a, red head? Only I'm sure there's some in my LFS and there getting sold as red heads, or is a red head a different fish from the same family only they look almost identical

you are correct....Synspilum = Redhead, Quetzal, Fire-faced

 

[Jonnyakawombell]

you are correct....Synspilum = Redhead, Quetzal, Fire-faced

Cool thanks frank