Jaguar (Managuense) Sexing

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DirtyPaws949

DirtyPaws949

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Jul 12, 2015
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Newport Beach
Hi folks.
I purchased a trio of baby Managuense cichlids about 6 months ago.
They’ve been getting big and fat off of everything (except most pellets smh), and I’m wondering if they’re exhibiting “pair” behaviors.
The larger, darker jag hangs out in the bottom corner by the flat stone, and wiggle-bumps or lightly pushes the bichirs away (it’s their favorite corner, too)… the other fish it chases off for short distances.
The smaller, more colorful jag in the video, Medium Jag, usually hangs out in the open more.
Medium Jag recently jumped out of the aquarium, I’m assuming in pursuit of Small Jag (small jag was so beat up that I thought it was the one who had jumped out after returning the fish to the water). Small Jag was moved to the 75gal with the convict cichlid pair, their brood, and a b*chy Vieja hybrid female.

Medium Jag and Big Jag are very tolerant of each other, with the minor, brief squabble here and there.

sorry for the poor video quality, YouTube always makes it look blurry.

 
Last edited:
With most Parachromis, the females don't have spots on the lower jaw area, males do.
Although the cichlids below are motaguensis, the trait applies as they are very close cousins to your managuense.
Above is a female, below a male
Other things like a more torpedo shape in females, while males have a steeper profile, and general body blotching colors on females is larger, males more small spotted,
but .........these trait are often less obvious when young.
Below a pair together, where differences are quite obvious.
 
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duanes said:
With most Parachromis, the females don't have spots on the lower jaw area, males do.
Although the cichlids below are motaguensis, the trait applies as they are very close cousins to your managuense.

Other things like a more torpedo shape in females, while males have a steeper profile, and general body blotching colors on females is larger, males more small spotted,
but .........these trait are often less obvious when young.
Click to expand...

Hey, thanks for your reply!
so it would appear to be two males, or too young to tell? I was googling and looking on YouTube, but they both seem to lack super definitive coloration.
The larger of the two in the video is developing a bit of a hump on his head/profile, smaller one is still quite streamlined.
 
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The large one appears to be male, and the one near the end of the vid, with a more light color in its background base color could be female.
But a 1 minute video is too short for me to tell, especially when they are facing the camera.
Broadside views are much more telling.
 
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duanes said:
The large one appears to be male, and the one near the end of the vid, with a more light color in its background base color could be female.
But a 1 minute video is too short for me to tell, especially when they are facing the camera.
Broadside views are much more telling.
Click to expand...

Okay thanks! I’ll try and get some still-photos of them from the side tonight when there’s no sun glare.
They always stare at me tho… it’s kind of creepy ?
Just figured them trying to pair up would be a likely culprit for Small Jag getting beat up.
Two of them had similar patterns/colors, and one was different when I picked them out… maybe I picked well ??
 
here learning these as well,

how’s this going ?

3 boys?
 
dr exum said:
here learning these as well,

how’s this going ?

3 boys?
Click to expand...
Still not sure.
The weather has been pretty janky, so I’ve been neglecting the outside aquariums.
I just did 50% changes on the 180, 150, 75, 60, 29 gallons today and yesterday, and scrubbed algae off the 75 and 60gal (where the jags are).
I can get more clearer pics tomorrow, but no opinion on the previous ones yet.
outside source thinks the two fish in the pictures are both males.
 
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Vents (I think that’s the word) were poking out a bit this morning, probably excited after the water change.
Medium Jag definitely has larger parts, Large Jag has a itty bitty point.

Medium
92CF3799-7D39-4736-8C90-5379D2693FE2.jpeg

Large
CFFFECB2-90C5-4B9C-913A-09A721C6A7B8.jpeg
 
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