Herichthys carpintis Texas cichlid male or female

[Tpepe321]

Just got this beautiful carpintis shipped to me. It is around 5-6”
Any idea on if it is male or female? Too early to tell? Thanks!

 

[danotaylor]

Body shape looks like my young 4” male. No black mark in the middle dorsal fin area indicative of a female

 

[duanes]

Looks male to me too.
The shape of the cranial profile appear male, like the one below.

below is a female, less steep profile

when mature females also sometimes sport a dark blotch in the dorsal, and prominant bands.

 

[duanes]

Here is another example of a females cranial profile, without the dark area in the dorsal.

The comparison to the male profile is obvious, even though he is in spawning colors