Need Your Help Sexing These 2 Convicts

[RampageRR]

I just went to 6 different stores looking to buy a pair of convicts to breed for feeders. Yes 6! What happened to these guys being readily available everywhere I went when I was growing up? I am definitely not a newcomer when it comes to fishkeeping in general, but when it comes to CA/SA cichlids, these would be my first. I've tried to read and figure out most of everything on my own without asking unnecessary questions, but this one I feel needs to be asked.

Anyways, I found the one I believe to be a female at one store, being the only one they had left (the one that has the bright orange coloration on the belly and fins). The male I found at the last store, it was the largest one they had and is probably 1/2" or so smaller than the female I had already picked up. Can you guys take a look at these two and ease my mind and tell me I at least have a single male and female convict pair here? If not, then I'll need to go back out and find whatever of the two I'm missing. Thanks!

 

[RampageRR]

First 2 pics are of what I believe to be the female, the last 2 are of the male. He was much more boldly striped in the tank when I picked him out. He completely washed out to almost pale white when I put him in the tank last night, then he has come back to look like this today. At least he's coloring back in somewhat. He was a little beat up in the fin area (most of them were in that tank - looked to be a tank of about 6 males and some other aggressive cichlids mixed in), he should heal fairly quick in here.

 

[doomiedee]

looks both males but the first pic could be a female . does it have any orange in the belly area?

 

[RampageRR]

Yeah, kind of hard to get a good pic with where the tank is right now. Not a lot of light in the room, still waiting for the tank lid to get here from Amazon. The top pic, the orange you see on the top fin is all along the bottom of the fish's belly as well, all the way up to the pectoral fin. Probably not really easy to see in the picture though. I'll try to get a better shot if no one else can tell for sure. Thanks for looking though.

 

[doomiedee]

its common for them to have orange in the fins.now i looked at the pic again it looks male due it the long fin streamers on the dorsal and anal fins. the females belly region will be orangeish pink. this is a female convict for referenceView attachment 868364.

 

[RampageRR]

That's what I'm worried about, is the long fin streamers. I did some reading, and from what I read the streamers aren't the best indicator of sex. Is that not accurate? I got a couple more pics of the one with the coloration, maybe that will help nail down a sex a little easier.

 

[orion85]

When sexing convicts, i pay no attention too how pointed the fins. I have noticed females can get fins as long as males. The only thing I pay attention too is the orange on the belly. If it has orange it is female, if it has no orange it is male. The last set of photos you posted is 100% female. Post a better picture of the one you think is the male.

 

[probassfisher010]

^, fin length with convicts means next to nothing, my big female has quite large trailers. Careful with a bigger female than male... My female killed her smaller male.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[doomiedee]

your best bet is the belly area the orange pink color on the stomach is the best way to tell. as for streamers . it depends some females do have long streamers but not like males. the second pic show female from what i can see. she also looks like she is ready to lay eggs due to her very dark bars and brighter colors.

aqualandpetsplus.com i use this site for any info on fish. the convict section should tell you everything you need to know about breeding them.

 

[doomiedee]

your best bet is the belly area the orange pink color on the stomach is the best way to tell. as for streamers . it depends some females do have long streamers but not like males. the second pic show female from what i can see. she also looks like she is ready to lay eggs due to her very dark bars and brighter colors.

aqualandpetsplus.com i use this site for any info on fish. the convict section should tell you everything you need to know about breeding them.