Fish ID....sex?

[vjayshutterbug]

This was a rescue...about 6-7 inches. He/She in a 75 gallon solo atm, but what should I be prepared for?
The owner was moving, so I took the fish. She thinks it's a red terror, but wasn't positive.
It does have dark blotches in it's top fin, so female? Idk.

 

[Deadeye]

100% a festae cichlid, and a good looking one at that.
Black blotch on the dorsal is one of the best ways to ID these guys, looks female to me but I would need a more side shot to be sure.

 

[vjayshutterbug]

100% a festae cichlid, and a good looking one at that.
Black blotch on the dorsal is one of the best ways to ID these guys, looks female to me but I would need a more side shot to be sure.

Thanks Deadeye. I think she was more "striped " at her previous home, but possibly stressed atm?
So...if it's a female can she live in the 75 for a while? And how much time do I have? Lol
I'm reading that festae cichlids get huge and require bigger tanks, but the females get smaller? And what size tank should I be planning on? 125? Though, those are still just 18 inches wide.

 

[Deadeye]

Festae will change color based on mood, dominance, surroundings, etc.
I’ve heard a female would be okay in a 75, 125 is definitely good to my knowledge - females don’t often get bigger than 12-15 inches. They are really slow growers.

 

[Jexnell]

Agree it looks to be a female Festae. I would shoot for a 6ft 125gal tank if you want to keep her for life. As Deadeye mentioned depending on several circumstances her coloration can change from drab to gorgeous. If I remember right duanes Has some pics of his Festae in both drab and breeding colors he may share.

 

[duanes]

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/festae/.highres/b4TG005.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Agree, she looks like a Mesoheros festae.
Very variable in color depending on tank mates, hierarchy within the tank mates, water quality, color of substrate and surroundings.
These fish come from the western slope of the Andes where snow melt in the mountains keeps them in constant water change, nitrates mostly undetectable and water slightly alkaline. (compared to the soft waters east of the Andes)

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/festae/2nd%20round/female/.highres/IMG_5751_zps3f9ee4ac.jpg?width=450&height=278&crop=fill

Above a female in a dark tank without a male.
Below, same female with a male in the tank.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/festae/2nd%20round/female/.highres/IMG_2911_zps469d244f.jpg?width=450&height=278&crop=fill

Below two females (male in the tank

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/festae/2nd%20round/.highres/049_zpsac3efb50.jpg?width=450&height=278&crop=fill

At this point it may be fine in the 75, if a rigorous water change schedule is maintained, and no other tank mates (especially other cichlids).
Although I have never kept them in anything smaller than 6 ft tanks.
If males and females are the same age, the males will usually outgrow females by leaps and bounds

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/festae/2nd%20round/.highres/052_zps510addc2.jpg?width=450&height=278&crop=fill

 

[Gourami Swami]

Yup definitely a festae. Probably a female.
I think a 75 would be about minimum tank size with lots of water changes and small/no tankmates. 6 foot tank would be better; could grow out a male for her and have a nice breeding pair.