Convicts Changing Sex??

[Bluesandtwo]

So I'm baffled. About 1 week ago I brought 3 female convicts - specifically as I didn't want the troubles breeding cause. All 3 were very clearly female, around 2 inches long. Very colourful bright bellies with colour in finage as well. Very nice looking females.

Two very quickly paired off as 'friends' and worked together, patrolled together, defending left over food together etc. The 3rd was shunned and died today for unknown reasons. Possibly because it was always getting seen off by the other 2 convicts and the 3 inch Jack Dempsey.

Since yesterday one of the females has dug a pit in the corner and is working hard. The other seems to guard it, doesn't help with the dig, but isn't chased off either. They are acting just like a male and female pair. Yet both still look identical and very much female. I filled the pit in during a waterchange but they put it back instantly.

Is it possible that the other female is performing the role of a male? Can they change sex? What the hell is happening??

 

[BIG-G]

More than likely one female is ready to spawn and will go through the motions of spawning, laying and defending.
If the other is truly female nothing else will come of it.
The eggs will be infertile and turn white.

The other female may be assuming a role in this but is likely hanging around to gobble up the eggs when her friend spawns.

 

[ryansmith83]

Female cichlids pair and spawn all the time. It’s why if you want peace in your tanks you do an all-male tank, not an all-female tank.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

So I'm baffled...They are acting just like a male and female pair. Yet both still look identical and very much female.

It's called a same sex relationship...

Is it possible that the other female is performing the role of a male?

Yes, many cichlids do it frequently. I've had male severums pair up, female jewels pair up...

Can they change sex?

No

What the hell is happening??

When a girl and a girl really love each other....

 

[Bluesandtwo]

Thanks for the replies. I've learnt an awful lot here!!

The next question for you all then..... my EBJD - I understand they are very hard to sex at the 3 inch mark compared to normal JDs. I had guessed I had a male as it was the largest in the tank and has longer dorsal and anal fins. However with the introduction of the convicts it's become much darker, almost black in places.

Is this likely to just be some stress from adding the convicts or possibly a breeding coat for a female?

All are eating well and water quality is perfect. They're in a 6 Foot tank with platys.

 

[duanes]

When more dominant cichlid species are added to a tank, like cons, the territorial hierarchy can change, and when this happens, a previously alpha individual may lose its status, which will manifest itself by a change to a less dominant appearance(or vise versa).
I had a group of Paratilapia where I thought one particular individual was female, within a day of the alpha male dying, this (what I thought was female individual)changed color, and shape of profile, and I realized it had been a subdominant male all along.

That said, I have also had certain cichlids that once laid eggs as females, change sex when no other males were present, and spawn as males.
Many fish have that capacity, clown fish, do it regularly, as do many others.

 

[Bluesandtwo]

So... She's laid her eggs and now won't let the other female convict anywhere near them. Rather sad that she's being a great mum with guarding them and deciding not to eat - but with no male to fertilise them.

What's the recommendation around her unfertilised eggs? Some are already white. Do I leave them until she is no longer interested or siphon them up?

 

[ryansmith83]

Either/or. The sooner you siphon them, the sooner she stops being psycho... and the sooner she probably lays again.

If your JD is a male, one will likely eventually pair with it.

 

[Bluesandtwo]

Either/or. The sooner you siphon them, the sooner she stops being psycho... and the sooner she probably lays again.

If your JD is a male, one will likely eventually pair with it.

I believe my JD to be male based on its long finnage and jaw. However it's only 3 inches and an electric blue so hard to sex. So far the JD is only interested in flaring at the convicts and chasing them.

I've just siphoned the eggs... and she's straight back to digging again!! The second convict is now at it as well. On the upside, the JD has lightened up which I assume means he's happier. Maybe because the convicts are sticking to one corner and only interesting in nesting?

 

[Bluesandtwo]

Update for anyone reading - I've removed the 2 convicts. What an absolute disaster. The two females both laid eggs and yet acted as mated pairs still. They turned the tables on the JD, kept attacking the platys fins and I suspect took a chunk out of a oto. Everyone now has ich - which I suspect is from stress.

My advice to anyone, avoid convicts unless in a species only tank. They are more mean than you can imagine!!