convict changes sexes F/M

[luisrcrx]

ok has anyone seen this before? I have 4 female (orange/red belly) cons 2" in my 75gal (dont mind the sig old setup) with clown loaches,tiger barbs,danios,and some fancy guppies. Two of my cons mated??? One day i came home from work and found babies! then the "male" died on me about 3 days after the fry was free swimming. Has anyone ever seen this before?

 

[pcfriedrich]

that's flippin incredible.

 

[Bderick67]

Ya this happens alot, mostly due to the owners incorrectly sexing their fish

 

[fishfreak317]

Ya this happens alot, mostly due to the owners incorrectly sexing their fish

 

[gilkm]

Ya this happens alot, mostly due to the owners incorrectly sexing their fish

 

[BTD930]

man thats weird lol

 

[luisrcrx]

Ya this happens alot, mostly due to the owners incorrectly sexing their fish

im not new to fishkeeping,i can see that with firemouths but these are black convict cichlids! only the females have orange/reddish bellies! And all of them were female when i had them. they were in my tank for like 7 months if i had a male (all black)and female pair they would have paired up along time ago. I know some saltwater fish and south american frogs can do this (change sex if there in a one sex environment) but i wanted to know if this has happened to any one here?

 

[DISCIPLE]

interesting!did any of the " females change in coloration as in loss of orange sides/belly? thats so wild.

 

[StripeGirl]

maybe one was a hermaphrodite?

 

[twhittle]

I have heard of male convicts having orange on their bellies. It is the exception, but not unheard of.