I've got 7 growing out now.. the largest are easily 2"+ Just judging by size I'm guessing I got a decent split of 3f/4m. WIsh I had the tank space to keep them all and even try my hand at breeding them but alas, I'll likely just see if I can keep a female or 2..
Festae progression thread!
- Thread starter JDCHSFB69
- Start date
Sorry if this is a derail
There is some research floating around that cichlids when very young, have not yet acquired a specific gender, and environmental conditions can determine sex ratio.
A few degrees too warm, and you end up with all males, few degrees too cool, all females.
Same goes for pH, a bit too basic, mostly one or the other, etc etc.
I found when I had a breeding group of Alcolapia alcalicus, if temps were in the high 70sF (low for this species), I'd end up with all females, but if I kept temps higher, in the mid 80s, an even male/female ratio would occur.
In the all female groups though, if no other males were provided, the dominant female would become male, later in life, even after previously laying eggs.
below a female Alcolapia holding
same female below, in the foreground later became a male and is fertilizing the eggs below
There is some research floating around that cichlids when very young, have not yet acquired a specific gender, and environmental conditions can determine sex ratio.
A few degrees too warm, and you end up with all males, few degrees too cool, all females.
Same goes for pH, a bit too basic, mostly one or the other, etc etc.
I found when I had a breeding group of Alcolapia alcalicus, if temps were in the high 70sF (low for this species), I'd end up with all females, but if I kept temps higher, in the mid 80s, an even male/female ratio would occur.
In the all female groups though, if no other males were provided, the dominant female would become male, later in life, even after previously laying eggs.
below a female Alcolapia holding
same female below, in the foreground later became a male and is fertilizing the eggs below
