Help Sexing Friedrichsthalii Cichlid

4D3

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jan 21, 2013
911
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Australia
Hi,

I have 2 friedrichsthalii cichlid, I think i have a male and a female, but i am having trouble working out which is which, can anyone help?

There is a definite difference in the patterns, and when i compare them to images on Google image search they are corresponding to the pattern variations there but i cannot find anything that will tell me which is which as far as sex goes...


Fred (3).jpg

Fred (2).jpg

Fred (2).jpg

Fred (3).jpg
 

Aquafreak

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Dec 22, 2008
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The larger, more yellow one looks like a male based on body shape. The other is a little harder to tell based on the pics, but I would say the darker, smaller one is the female. Better individual pics would help.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 

fwprawn

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 29, 2011
3,441
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New England
Larger one is definitely male. Smaller looks male, too.

Also - at this size - if they were in fact a pair - you would see them exhibiting some spawning activity.
 

isde02

Arapaima
MFK Member
Jan 4, 2011
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Larger one is definitely male. Smaller looks male, too.

Also - at this size - if they were in fact a pair - you would see them exhibiting some spawning activity.
That's what I was thinking too...the smaller looks like a subdominant male.
 

4D3

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jan 21, 2013
911
14
18
Australia
The larger, more yellow one looks like a male based on body shape. The other is a little harder to tell based on the pics, but I would say the darker, smaller one is the female. Better individual pics would help.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Larger one is definitely male. Smaller looks male, too.

Also - at this size - if they were in fact a pair - you would see them exhibiting some spawning activity.
That's what I was thinking too...the smaller looks like a subdominant male.
Thanks all for the replies, here are some hopefully better pictures. (there is no difference in size really, it is just one is floating further away from the camers)

Regarding the breeding behaviour....they are in a mixed tank with 8 other american cichlids....i dont think spawning is on the cards

20150204_140047.jpg

20150204_140719.jpg

20150204_140218.jpg

20150204_140047.jpg

20150204_140218.jpg

20150204_140719.jpg
 

the animal guy

Arapaima
MFK Member
Aug 23, 2009
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Nice Monarchs man. I'm open to take in a Monarch for almost a decade. I remember seeing a legit group in the beginning of my cichlid hobby. The rich golden yellow is really rich. :drool: unlike La ceibas.
 

fwprawn

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 29, 2011
3,441
7
38
New England
Even in a mixed tank, there would have been breeding behavior.

That aside - with the new photos - both are definitely males.
 

fug202

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 23, 2012
498
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Boise, ID
In my experience males have more mottling over the operculum than do females, and they have many more dark scales over their body. I agree that both of your fish are male. Here are examples based on fish I have. The upper fish is a male freddy 'monarch' (from Cichlid Connection), and the other is a female Parachromis 'la ceiba' (From Cichlids of the Americas), but I think it illustrates the general points about pattern.

male (~7")
2014 04_05 copy.JPG

female (~4.5")
IMG_9066 copy.JPG

2014 04_05 copy.JPG

IMG_9066 copy.JPG
 
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