At what size can you generally sex a peacock cichlid?

[SCM_2123]

I know male peacock cichlids are the more colorful ones, at what size do those colors generally start to show? This is in reference to the ones labeled "assorted peacock cichlids" at the big box stores.

 

[audioscience10]

I typically start to see color at around the 1.5" mark. The problem with big box stores, though, is that a lot of times the vendor that they get them from gives them a bunch of hormones in their food to grow them faster. This also has the added effect of making them color up quick and making females color like males. I have personally purchased box store fish that presented tons of color, when purchased, only to end up being female and losing all that color after a few months of normal food.

 

[SCM_2123]

I typically start to see color at around the 1.5" mark. The problem with big box stores, though, is that a lot of times the vendor that they get them from gives them a bunch of hormones in their food to grow them faster. This also has the added effect of making them color up quick and making females color like males. I have personally purchased box store fish that presented tons of color, when purchased, only to end up being female and losing all that color after a few months of normal food.

Interesting.

 

[tlindsey]

I typically start to see color at around the 1.5" mark. The problem with big box stores, though, is that a lot of times the vendor that they get them from gives them a bunch of hormones in their food to grow them faster. This also has the added effect of making them color up quick and making females color like males. I have personally purchased box store fish that presented tons of color, when purchased, only to end up being female and losing all that color after a few months of normal food.

Wow

 

[DJRansome]

I would say three inches. But keep in mind hybrids (often in the assorted tank) can have color on females, and as mentioned, if the fish are hormoned, they will show color regardless of gender/size.

 

[neutrino]

It can vary a bit by species, individual, and status in the tank (meaning you can get dominant males that show up early and stealth males that take a while), but 3 inches is a good average imo. Not just color, while the rule of males having longer and more pointed fins doesn't work with all cichlids it does with most haps and peacocks.