Carpintis Cichlid Male or Female?

[RD.]

Very nice fish in all the pics. My immediate take on the first fish was female because the dark barring and the center of gravity being even with/ below the mouth. Males carry more weight above their mouths. Could just be a fat male though.

That second male is very pretty but that rounded head profile makes me wonder if there is some vieja/red texas back in the woodpile.

The second male posted has provenance back to the wild, and is an H. carpintis “Escondido” variant. At the very least it came from a well known and trustworthy vendor. No real reason for anyone to lie considering the cost for F2, F3, or whatever fish.

 

[Red Cichlids]

I believe it. As soon as I posted that message I thought, that probably is a pedigreed fish. He definitely had an unusually rounded profile , but that must be variation within the species. Certainly turned out beautiful.

 

[Man-made Monsters]

Some updated photos coming of my carpintis. I'm thinking this could be a male. There seems to be no sign of a black blotch on the dorsal fin anymore. Anyone who has experience with this fish is welcome to post their thoughts onto its gender.

 

[Man-made Monsters]

 

[RD.]

If you want anything beyond an educated guess, post a clear shot of its vent.

 

[Man-made Monsters]

Vent Pics:

 

[RD.]

Same answer as in other thread....

I can't be certain by that photo, but I am leaning more towards male now. Females tend to be wider/broader vents, where a males is pointy. It looks like you squeezed too hard. lol

 

[maxstillen]

Male.

 

[mr cichlid]

I haven't read all posts.. but see it much different than what I did read. I'd say 90%+ female. And looks like at spawning age. The pronounced black vertical stripes on back half and lack of face worming is classic signs. Carpinte aren't like your Texas, salvini, festae, cuban, trimac, etc where female gets black dorsal fin. Put dominant male in wand watch that tube come down

 

[CichlidBeautyAlways]

A lack of black spot in the dorsal is not a fool proof way to sex this species as being female, or male, and neither is a slight nuchal hump. As I stated initially, the fish seems too long in the face to me to be male, the slope is too long in the head profile. Look at my male, and how blunt his face is in comparison to the OP's fish, even as a young juvenile fish.

i will post better pics but can u help with mine?