Sex my bifa

[Rocksor]

Here are photos of my two unknown sex Bifas. They are 5-6 year old, full grown at 10", and both have a small hump. Except that one is pluma than the other, there is no external difference between the two. They are in separate tank houses with a Samzi and Zaire Front, so Front and Vieja are perfect tankmates having similar temperament and water requirement.

4 of their siblings were sold to my friend and have laid eggs a few times. Until they drop their egg and sperm tube during spawning, we can't sex them off breeding time because they have zero sexual dimorphism. Many reported that male Bifas can hit 14" so size can be used to sex. But my strain stays smaller, all under 11".

View attachment 1267174

View attachment 1267175

Does your bifa ever get a dark/black mouth and chin and start being aggressive towards your male green terror or other male cichlid?

 

[tiger15]

The Male GT is equal in size to the Bifa and is the upper dog. They are at peace most of the time, but once for a while, the Bifa would challenge the GT and locked jaw, but no harm done and resumed peace soon. When the Bifa is in combat mode, she or he will darken, but I don't recall seeing a dark chin. If the two don't get along, one will get killed quickly in a small 75 raised together for 5+ years.

The other assumed male Bifa in a 125 previously had male Vieja tankmates. Occasionally, the male Vieja had turned dark chin and attempted to court each other, but never bothered the Bifa. If the Bifa were a female, I would think they would have crossed bred. Occasionally, this Bifas would drop its genital tube and get aggressive, but never laid eggs. But without side by side comparison, I can't itell if the tube is sperm or egg.

 

[dan518]

Here are photos of my two unknown sex Bifas. They are 5-6 year old, full grown at 10", and both have a small hump. Except that one is pluma than the other, there is no external difference between the two. They are in separate tank houses with a Samzi and Zaire Front, so Front and Vieja are perfect tankmates having similar temperament and water requirement.

4 of their siblings were sold to my friend and have laid eggs a few times. Until they drop their egg and sperm tube during spawning, we can't sex them off breeding time because they have zero sexual dimorphism. Many reported that male Bifas can hit 14" so size can be used to sex. But my strain stays smaller, all under 11".

View attachment 1267174

View attachment 1267175

What strain are yours, I don't know of any strain that grows smaller then the others, at 5 years old and only 10 inch would point at females

 

[tiger15]

What strain are yours, I don't know of any strain that grows smaller then the others, at 5 years old and only 10 inch would point at females

Not sure about the strain as I bought a group from a breeder. Not only my two Bifas max out at 10". Their siblings I sold to a friend all reached about the same size.