Carpintis Cichlid Male or Female?

[Man-made Monsters]

Hello everyone, so I have always found carpintis cichlids to be so incredibly beautiful. Especially the ones from the Escondido region. I found this little one at just over an inch and bought it. I say "it" because it is now around 3.0-3.5 inches in size and I still cant tell its gender. Any one out there with a good amount of experience that might be able to help me tell the gender would be greatly appreciated. I took the best photos I could get for now........Male or Female???

 

[sikoko]

Hello everyone, so I have always found carpintis cichlids to be so incredibly beautiful. Especially the ones from the Escondido region. I found this little one at just over an inch and bought it. I say "it" because it is now around 3.0-3.5 inches in size and I still cant tell its gender. Any one out there with a good amount of experience that might be able to help me tell the gender would be greatly appreciated. I took the best photos I could get for now........Male or Female???

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Id say male as it seems he's beginning to get the nuchal hump. Also there is no dark splotch on the dorsal fin. But maybe someone more experienced can correct me.

 

[Jexnell]

I agree looks male

 

[adamsfishes]

I would have guessed male. Really nice fish.

 

[RD.]

Hmmmm, it seems too long in the face to be male. I would guess female.

My male Escondido when he was at approx. 3-3.5" TL.

 

[RD.]

This shot was taken several months ago, he would have been a solid 9" in this photo, and breeding on a regular basis.

 

[RD.]

Duane - do NOT look at the following photo. lol


Him and his equally crazy lady friend, doing what they do best. Pic taken in March 2018.
Hope this helps.

 

[sikoko]

Rd would you mind explaining to the masses how you think it's female? I'm curious just cause she's missing the splotch on the dorsal fin and has a slight nuchal hump.

 

[RD.]

A lack of black spot in the dorsal is not a fool proof way to sex this species as being female, or male, and neither is a slight nuchal hump. As I stated initially, the fish seems too long in the face to me to be male, the slope is too long in the head profile. Look at my male, and how blunt his face is in comparison to the OP's fish, even as a young juvenile fish.

 

[sikoko]

Thanks Rd I was just curious. I see now the blunted face of your male compared to the longer more pointed face of ops