How do you tell how old a Cichlid is?

[cichlid_8810]

I have adopted a Jack Dempsey Male. It is around 7 and a half inch in length.

How can you tell its age?

I appreciate it might be impossible but wondered if anyone can have a guesstimate?

Here he is....

 

[Aquanero]

I have found cichlids always lie about there age, the best method is to cut them in half and count the rings!

Joking, can't tell but your JD looks like it has a few years on it.

 

[jag123]

I would think you could tell a fish's age the same way typically - I know that locally when people catch Muskellunge, they have the angler remove a scale or two from the body of the fish and mail it in to DNR - they can typically tell quite a bit about the fish including age, health, etc.

I can't imagine anyone would to this with a pet cichlid, but it can probably be done.

Your JD indeed looks like he has some age on him - no background from the previous owner?

 

[cichlid_8810]

The store that gave it to me said a guy brought it back this week and that it was only around 3 years old but I find it hard to believe?

 

[cichlid_8810]

Another photo of him - notice he also has a little bump on his forehead area.

 

[MyDovii]

Their backs grow curved like ( but this way --- and their faces get messed up

 

[ccebr]

I have found cichlids always lie about there age, the best method is to cut them in half and count the rings!

Yep! That OR carbon dating

 

[ccebr]

my male jd is around 4", and 9-12 months. So yours could be 1.5-3 years. difficult to say

 

[Natalie]

Once a cichlid has reached adult size, it's hard to tell exactly how old they are. It can be done though! A scale can be removed and examined microscopically to literally count the rings in it-- this tells how many years old it is. After death, the otoliths (ear bones) can be removed and counted the same way. Pretty cool

 

[cichlid_8810]

Thanks everyone,

I just hope he is not to old - compared to my other male that is 8" he does seem old.