A visual guide to sexing new world cichlids

[duanes]

One of the most obvious determiners on many is a dark area, or colorful patch in the dorsal fin. example the very obvious Cryptoheros (Archocentrus)nanoluteus
first the female dark, and colorful patch in the dorsal

male no patch

Next Guianacara geayi,note how in the female (directly below)the mid body blotch only slightly bleeds into the dorsal fin, but is visible.

now the male directly below

In Cuban cichlids Nandopsis tetracanthus, the nearly solid blotch covers most of the anterior area of the dorsal in females

male below

Much the same in Nandopsis haitiensus
female lower in the pic

in the Herichthys carpintus complex it can be a little less obvious when not spawning,
the female is most clear in the forground

male below, note the head profile difference between the 2.

Vieja breidhori below, 1st the female

below the male

and beani , beside the dorsal patch, the female is much more topedo shaped

male beani

Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys
here is an exception, females (in the foreground) below

male directly below

Please chime in and maybe we can get a complete pictorial list of all new worlds between us.

 

[Miguel]

Great job, Duanes...

 

[viejafish]

Thanks for the demonstration. I've never known that Vieja breidhori or any Vieja species can be sexed by the presence or absence of dorsal dark blotch.

 

[duanes]

Here's a few more
trimaculatus, male in the foreground

Parachromis motaguense
here the female color and shape come into play, not the dorsal

female in the foreground above, male below

as is color, size and fin shape in Austraoheros sp red ceibal, male above, smaller female below

Chuco intermedium below, smaller female left

note the males head profile, and overall extra bulk

same goes for Herichthys pantostictus male

female

In grammodes the male has a longer body, is more colorful, and more massive head

female below

and side by side, male right

Cryptoheros cutteri, much more bulky body and head in the male

female in the foreground below

male below in spawning color

 

[duanes]

In another of the Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys tribe, sp Paso Pache the females have much less bulk and color is dull in comparison to the males.
female

male

together

 

[Miguel]

Keep it up, please...

Do you have any visula clue, like the above, for other parachromis and amhilophus, Duane?

 

[duanes]

Other species of Parachromis were breeding for me back in the 80s, before I had a camera, so it would help if other aquarists with those species, would post.
I have not ventured into Amphilophus as of yet, so I leave them to others too.
But here are some young xCichlasoma ornatum, if the dorsal blotch holds true,
below are females at @ 1-2"

and below males

Keep it up, please.

Do you have any visula clue, like the above, for other parachromis and amhilophus, Duane?

 

[MTBjake]

I have a question for you Duanes. What would you call this Cuban? I thought it was male, and to me it looks male, but its suddenly taken to following around and nesting with my known male Jag. He/she/it is about 6" tl.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[duanes]

Looks male, but a side view with the dorsal extended would really help, can't see the fin in the pic, and its also hard to really see the profile.
male profile

female

male

female

 

[Aquanero]

Nice thread Duane, I'm enjoying the pictures and the comparasions between the males and females.