Hello everyone I'm new to MFK and wrote up an introduction on myself in the introduce yourself section. But I was wondering if a male Texas could have a black blotch on his caudal fin. Because I've seen videos on you tube of breeding Texas and both appear to have a black botch on caudal fin? But conflicting readings is what I'm finding appreciate any input I can attach pics of Texas once I figure how to
Male Texas or female
- Thread starter Anthony D
- Start date
During spawning both males and female Herichthys sport a dark blotch in the dorsal, males usually don't have a prominent one when not spawning.
Beside the blotch, the facial profile is a good indicator, it is much steeper in males, and more torpedo shaped in fleas.
Here is a pair in spawning mode, male to the right.
note how steep his profile is in comparison to the female on the left.
a non-spawning male below
below a non-spawning female, totally different profile
gender differences are sometimes obvious at only 1", especially when in close proximity
Beside the blotch, the facial profile is a good indicator, it is much steeper in males, and more torpedo shaped in fleas.
Here is a pair in spawning mode, male to the right.
note how steep his profile is in comparison to the female on the left.
a non-spawning male below
below a non-spawning female, totally different profile
gender differences are sometimes obvious at only 1", especially when in close proximity
It appears to have a dark spot in the dorsal, and the profile is more torpedo like, which could indicate a female. But....
Are there any other cichlids in the tank, a more dominant one?
If so, many subdominant male cichlids will instinctively present female traits.
This sometimes works to suggest subdominence to the other more alpha individual, saving it from instant death, and can make gender diagnosis difficult.
I have had many cichlids I thought were females, almost overnight change profile when an alpha male was removed or died. And it doesn't matter if its the same species, an alpha is an alpha.
Are there any other cichlids in the tank, a more dominant one?
If so, many subdominant male cichlids will instinctively present female traits.
This sometimes works to suggest subdominence to the other more alpha individual, saving it from instant death, and can make gender diagnosis difficult.
I have had many cichlids I thought were females, almost overnight change profile when an alpha male was removed or died. And it doesn't matter if its the same species, an alpha is an alpha.
Understood just a little confused I thought the top pic the fishes forehead looked steep making me think male only other fish in that tank is a pair yes a pair of 3 " female cons. I only have the Texas two weeks I was at my lfs and this guy walks in with a bucket full of these dumps them into a tank the one I picked was definitely the biggest out of the bunch it's about 3.5" the others ranged from 1" to approximately 2.75" some of the other individuals on the larger end of the group also had a slight bump on the forehead as mine does more easy to see in first pic?