I brought a umbie recently which is about 10-11 inches. I was told it was most proberly a male but I am not sure.
-I have seen pics of males but mine is not as colourful most of the time. Only when I do water changes or touch the tank does it look good. The head and back is copper,clay reddish. After water change the copper colour is very vivberant almost glowing
-the dosal fin extentends untill the end of the tail and breaks up into three parts. Hafe the dorsal fin is solid dark blue and the latter hafe is see-through- I am adding this part because I heard male cichlids eg festas dosal fins although colourful are see-through.
-I can't see any vent signals even after 4 weeks, is this normal for umbies? Are females less likely to show vents? I am asking this because most of my other male cichlids no matter what size shows some vent details.
-not a headbanger, seems quite regal in behaviour, comes to meet me in a confident and friendly way. However does show some flarrings sometimes if I get too close but not too much.
- did try to see some reaction with a smaller 6-7 inch umbie(proberly a male, show more aggressive behaviour and thin pointed vent) with a seperater. The result was very aggressive behavior and trying to break the seperater down with success. The small umbie did not put up a fight once the seperater was pushed down. Don't worry both fishes are fine.
_the umbie still shows alot of the lateral dark markings with two large spots.
Sorry I can't show pics.
Is there a sure fire way too know the sex?
Thanks guys&gals
-I have seen pics of males but mine is not as colourful most of the time. Only when I do water changes or touch the tank does it look good. The head and back is copper,clay reddish. After water change the copper colour is very vivberant almost glowing
-the dosal fin extentends untill the end of the tail and breaks up into three parts. Hafe the dorsal fin is solid dark blue and the latter hafe is see-through- I am adding this part because I heard male cichlids eg festas dosal fins although colourful are see-through.
-I can't see any vent signals even after 4 weeks, is this normal for umbies? Are females less likely to show vents? I am asking this because most of my other male cichlids no matter what size shows some vent details.
-not a headbanger, seems quite regal in behaviour, comes to meet me in a confident and friendly way. However does show some flarrings sometimes if I get too close but not too much.
- did try to see some reaction with a smaller 6-7 inch umbie(proberly a male, show more aggressive behaviour and thin pointed vent) with a seperater. The result was very aggressive behavior and trying to break the seperater down with success. The small umbie did not put up a fight once the seperater was pushed down. Don't worry both fishes are fine.
_the umbie still shows alot of the lateral dark markings with two large spots.
Sorry I can't show pics.
Is there a sure fire way too know the sex?
Thanks guys&gals
