???about breed and sexing and advice Please

[-Die4U-]

Cause I know you folks on here are experts i have 3 fish 1 larger and 2 smaller . The 2 smaller one have been lip locking . Im guessing the larger 1 is female and the 2 smaller ones are male . When I got them they were all the same size . Just wondering if anyone know the breed and if they pair and which 1 I should take and trade it in at my local fish store . Thank you

 

[Deadeye]

They all look like female red shoulder sevs to me, the smaller ones may be too young to show male coloring though. Second pic looks like it may wind up being a male.
Generally, male severums will have “worming” around their mouths, females will not.
My male green severum for reference
Also an example from online:
Left is a female, right is a male.

 

[-Die4U-]

Thanks for quick response. The two are lip locking pretty hard .its weird its like the larger stay in the middle of the two smaller ones and keeps them apart . 1 stays in upper corner and other 1 at other end of the tank . I think I should just take 1 in to fix the problem.

 

[Deadeye]

Usually having two causes more of a mess, because there is less fish to spread the aggression out. The safest method is to either rehome two of them or to ride it out and see what happens. They will eventually sort it out once a dominant one is established. The largest one will also help in regulating fights/breaking them up. How big is the tank, they may not all have enough space to sort out territories?

 

[ryansmith83]

You have three rotkeil (“red shoulder”) severum females. It’s possible that two of them are pairing off, or they’re fighting over who is the dominant fish.

What size is the tank? Unfortunately this is common if you keep Heros in groups of less than 5 or 6. A dominant fish usually emerges to harass the others, or a pair forms and makes life hell for the rest.