True Festae? or No?

[Ryan029]

Hello all,
New to this particular forum and looking forward to learning from everyone's expertise! I have done a fair bit of reading about how to determine the difference between a true festae (red terror) and a Mayan. A few months ago my lfs was selling small "true festae's" and so I bought one, but then I also noticed that they had a MUCH bigger fish labeled as a "Red Terror" that was clearly a Mayan. This got me thinking that maybe I should just be sure of what I purchased, either way I'll be keeping it, but I'd just like to know for my own peace of mind. Mine seems to display the typical true festae 'y' stipe and high 'eye' marking on the tail. But I read on another thread that a tell tail sign is actually in the mouth? A true festae's mouth points forward while a Mayan's mouth point more upward? That's what I read at least. Anyways I thought I'd throw a couple of photo's up and see if anyone would mind giving me their opinions. Also, I have no idea what sex it is, it is still small but I'd love to here thoughts on that as well. Thanks in advance!

 

[Rocksor]

Small ocellated tail spot and y bar near the gill, true festae it is. . How long is it?

 

[Ryan029]

Fairly small yet, maybe between 2-2.5 inches. It has grown maybe a half inch in the past couple of months I've owned it, so it will certainly outgrow the 40 gallon (long) tank it's in now within a year I'm thinking Lol I'll graduate to a 75 gallon next and then go from there depending on if it's a male or female. Male will obviously require much more space than a 75 gallon tank from what I'm told?

 

[MP_cichlid]

Long run it depends, if say that a 75 would be ok for a single female. At least a 125 for a male. This one looks to be male. Males can reach 16"

 

[Ryan029]

Long run it depends, if say that a 75 would be ok for a single female. At least a 125 for a male. This one looks to be male. Males can reach 16"

Shoot...now I've gotta a dude fish named Penelope! lol

 

[MP_cichlid]

I'm not 100% sure, however if i had to guess I would guess male.

 

[Festae Forever]

Festae!

 

[Rocksor]

Wait until it reaches 4" total length. It will be easier to sex then.

 

[Ryan029]

Ok hey thanks everyone,

Wait until it reaches 4" total length. It will be easier to sex then.

So then I'm when it does reach 4 inches I'm looking for black along the dorsal fin if it's a female? Is there a more reliable characteristic to look at?

 

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

Ok hey thanks everyone,
Look closely at there unpaired fins. Males have loads more freckles.
So then I'm when it does reach 4 inches I'm looking for black along the dorsal fin if it's a female? Is there a more reliable characteristic to look at?