Hi all, brand new to posting on this forum but spent some time browsing threads before signing up officially. Bear with me as this could be a bit long!
I finally bought myself a couple of convicts, paying no mind to sex of the fish. I just liked the look of them.
After maybe a few days in my tank I noticed they were excavating! I recognized the mating dance - one was shaking their head at the other and they spent some time together in their newly renovated hideout. After a few more days I noticed the larger, more colourful one guarding the hideout fiercely, while the smaller one was patrolling the rest of the tank. Anytime the smaller one was within sight of the larger one, the larger one would chase it to a spot away from the hideout and return to the nest. I did not see any eggs. From what I have read, based on behaviour the female is the larger one protecting the nest and they are most definitely in breeding mode. Am I correct on this?
Now, my confusion lies in their overall colouring. Everything I've read says only the females have orange on them. These guys both do, and both have pointed dorsal and anal fins. The larger one is definitely more intensely coloured, with turquoise on its fins, orange on the body and yellow at the tail. I don't think either are mature enough to be developing a hump which would probably give me my answer. They're only a couple inches max. Is it possible that I do in fact have a male with a bit of orange on him? Or do I have two females (which explains the lack of eggs)?
I finally bought myself a couple of convicts, paying no mind to sex of the fish. I just liked the look of them.
After maybe a few days in my tank I noticed they were excavating! I recognized the mating dance - one was shaking their head at the other and they spent some time together in their newly renovated hideout. After a few more days I noticed the larger, more colourful one guarding the hideout fiercely, while the smaller one was patrolling the rest of the tank. Anytime the smaller one was within sight of the larger one, the larger one would chase it to a spot away from the hideout and return to the nest. I did not see any eggs. From what I have read, based on behaviour the female is the larger one protecting the nest and they are most definitely in breeding mode. Am I correct on this?
Now, my confusion lies in their overall colouring. Everything I've read says only the females have orange on them. These guys both do, and both have pointed dorsal and anal fins. The larger one is definitely more intensely coloured, with turquoise on its fins, orange on the body and yellow at the tail. I don't think either are mature enough to be developing a hump which would probably give me my answer. They're only a couple inches max. Is it possible that I do in fact have a male with a bit of orange on him? Or do I have two females (which explains the lack of eggs)?
