Do y'all thinks this is a male or female Festae

[zippo300z]

Been digging through posts to see distinctions between a male and female. Blue spangles on body...specks on fins...dark dorsal fins. Been waiting a few months till s(he) got larger. It's about 5.5 inches. I thought female when it was smaller. Now I'm thinking male. Maybe y'all can help. Thanks.

 

[cichla81]

Looks like a male but I'm no expert on festae

 

[pelleeklund]

I'm not an expert but I have a female festae and that looks like a stressed female based on the dark front of the dorsal. I'll go female.

 

[zippo300z]

Thanks for the input. I hope it's a female. I don't think it's stress though. It's solo in a 75. Got home from work and found it takin a nap so I turned on the lights and snuck in a few pics which is why it's darker in the 3rd pic.

 

[NW Cichlid Keith]

Guessing female but not fully confident

 

[Alexxxxsv14]

Doesn't have that many speckles like a male would so ima guess female as well

 

[Covetous]

Female

 

[duanes]

Here is the tail spot on a male

now note the tail spot, and dorsal fin of a female

more female dorsals

now note, the difference where a female is in a tank without a male below.
My point is without a member of the opposite sex around ( I believe this is how your "female"is now kept), gender lines can become slightly blurred.

 

[phineasborg]

female

 

[zippo300z]

Word....thanks for the feedback. I'm still callin her Emilio though.