Sexing firemouths?

[rust9000]

Hi, i recentally got 2 firemouths one is 4" the other is 5", now they are flaring at each other, and beating the arowana and black shark up, they are also moving sand around but in different areas of the tank. The biggest one has a hump....but the smaller one also has a smallish hump. both are coloured da same but neither have their pipes out....are they fighting? pairing? or being annoying? .....Any help would be great thanks. sorry for the bad pics, they are off my phone
Biggest one (male im sure of)


Smaller one...i think female

 

[livebearerfreak]

maybe there prespawning? or just getting ready to spawn.

 

[Mocha Jive]

I would like to know too I just picked up a firemouth this weekend and I am thinking it's male becuase of the streamer on the fin but not completely sure. Does yours look kinda like this as far as coloring?

 

[davidefc]

the first photos are nice colourings and the 2nd persons got nice fin colouring and not alot of red on its throat but this will increase as it gets older if keep well

 

[dovii88]

top one is a female

 

[rust9000]

You sure they are not male and female? this is confusing hahahah

 

[jarcher1390]

seem to me after closer insepction of those rubish photos sos but u have to agree, u have got a male and female and seem they are getting ready to spawn especaly if the female looks like its cleaning a rock or somit like that ready for the eggs to be placed on it

 

[Headrush]

I go by the filament on the dorsal = male

Heres a couple pics of my 4" male FM I took a couple weeks ago. I gotta remember to wash that friggin glass first huh? HA

 

[Mr.Firemouth]

The dorsal fins is one way to tell sex but is unreliable in juveniles.
Color has no bearing on sex.
the best way is to see if the vent tube is pronounced in the female before/after breeding. There will be a tube opening on the bottom of her belly.
For the most part, if they have paired off and are not killing each other they are probably a male and female and you will soon have some fry.( if the fish are mature enough to fertilze the eggs successfully)

 

[Headrush]

The dorsal fins is one way to tell sex but is unreliable in juveniles.
Color has no bearing on sex.
the best way is to see if the vent tube is pronounced in the female before/after breeding. There will be a tube opening on the bottom of her belly.
For the most part, if they have paired off and are not killing each other they are probably a male and female and you will soon have some fry.( if the fish are mature enough to fertilze the eggs successfully)

I have also heard that you can tell by the slope or shape of their head.
Mr Firemouth: Is this true or someone telling tall tales?

Curious, Thanks!