Will dominate males sometimes keep around a much smaller sub male?

[Addicted to Cichlids]

So I got three baby Festae over a year ago, the dominant Male took one out in the first few weeks, but left what I assumed was a female alone.

Now the dominant Male is ~8 inches, with the classic gold green color but the "female" is. ~3 in, and could probably be swallowed whole by the male.

The "female" maintains a gold coat, sometimes with orange and black accents, the Male tries to herd her, and nips at her fins, ill sometimes see the Male's vent down, but they have never got far enough to lay eggs.

Could my big Male just be confused? And is keeping a sub Male around thinking it's a girl.

 

[tlindsey]

So I got three baby Festae over a year ago, the dominant Male took one out in the first few weeks, but left what I assumed was a female alone.

Now the dominant Male is ~8 inches, with the classic gold green color but the "female" is. ~3 in, and could probably be swallowed whole by the male.

The "female" maintains a gold coat, sometimes with orange and black accents, the Male tries to herd her, and nips at her fins, ill sometimes see the Male's vent down, but they have never got far enough to lay eggs.

Could my big Male just be confused? And is keeping a sub Male around thinking it's a girl.

If possible post a pic. Also suggest placing something in the aquarium for the smaller male/female to retreat to in case things get rough.

 

[Addicted to Cichlids]

If possible post a pic. Also suggest placing something in the aquarium for the smaller male/female to retreat to in case things get rough.

Yeah she has caves, but for some reason chooses the one with the male, who's been nipping her pretty bad lately.

I'll try to get a fresh pick when I get home

 

[Addicted to Cichlids]

A few old ones

 

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

Looks like a male and female to me. Going by the black in the females dorsal and the lack of freckles in her unpaired fins.
A couple of pics for reference.

 

[Addicted to Cichlids]

Looks like a male and female to me. Going by the black in the females dorsal and the lack of freckles in her unpaired fins.
A couple of pics for reference.

View attachment 1375390

View attachment 1375391

Ya I thought so, even when she was eating regularly she paled in size to the Male, now she cant even compete for food. I'm thinking I should have grown them out separately then introduced them

 

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

If it was me I'd put in a divider for a few months. Feed her up and let her gain strength and confidence again.

 

[duanes]

I agree the one in your pic is a female, and the size differential is quite normal.
Andy's suggestion is good one, I have done it in the past. I usually cut an area just big enough for the female to pass back-n-forth, but not the male.

 

[Addicted to Cichlids]

I agree the one in your pic is a female, and the size differential is quite normal.
Andy's suggestion is good one, I have done it in the past. I usually cut an area just big enough for the female to pass back-n-forth, but not the male.

Yeah I was unprepared for just how difficult they would be, my old man has red points and breidohri, and they were a cakewalk comparitivly.