water has something to do with it they need soft water, to get the best color, i have some real red hemichromis, if i can take some pics and post i will.
pure hemichromis lifalili "blood red jewel', dont go passed 3inches for females and 4 inches for males , the crosses might hit 5inches, i bought some great looking crooses sold as lifalili from thatpetplace in lancaster pa
maybe, the way to sex the lifalili or what i know as lifalili, is the males keep a darker red almost with a blueish hint to them with the females looking like strawberries, but if you post it i'll try, and if i can't i know someone who can tell