Lenticilata sexing and breeding behavior

[Chefken]

I am new to the Pike world. i have a pair of lovely Lents about 6-7" long. The are coloring up nicely and spend most of thier time together in a large rock cave. One is obviously dominate and inflates its gills and head when it emerges quite often....The other spends more of ite time in the cave......can males and females be easily distinguished? Pics are tough as they are still very skitish. i got them three days ago after a long long search. One has some healing tail. The only pic I have so far is only an hour out of the mail and the fish are much better colored now. PH is just under 6. I have 300lbs of rock in the tank which provides a lovely maze. Any help would be awesome....My last tank concept was Datnoids.....this tank is pure South American with a young Mata Mata living on top on the rock structure. A show tank for sure!! TY Ken

 

[Chefken]

Here is the other....Man they are tough to photo!!

 

[kno4te]

Look male. Females have the white stripe in the dorsal fin. Think they are a little small to tell.

 

[Chefken]

Look male. Females have the white stripe in the dorsal fin. Think they are a little small to tell.

Thank you....the pair supposedly grew up together. They chase each other a bit but no biting so far. They hang in the same cave. Are males larger and more aggressive?

 

[kno4te]

Thank you....the pair supposedly grew up together. They chase each other a bit but no biting so far. They hang in the same cave. Are males larger and more aggressive?

Not sure specifically. Can ask Rocksor and mrrobxc for some additional info.

 

[mrrobxc]

Females will have a white submarginal for sale stripe. You can also vent them.

They’ve never been bred in captivity so if you’re successful, you’ll be the first.

 

[Chefken]

Females will have a white submarginal for sale stripe. You can also vent them.

They’ve never been bred in captivity so if you’re successful, you’ll be the first.

Seems highly unlikely....Pikes do have complicated behavior vs many cichlids I have kept though......