Umbee Sexing (Again ..sort of)

[JCorso]

Pretty sure I've got it figured out. Just looking for a quick double check. Both are WC Rio Mags from Rapps.

1. The fatter fish: Female?
6.5", drab colors, only a few freckles, blue speckles only below the lateral line, pronounced "tear drop" below eyes, no trailers, only very slight blackening on edges of pelvic/anal fins.

2. The thinner fish: Male?
5.5", too many freckles to count, beautiful speckles covering body and fins, developing trailers, very slight blackening on edges of pelvic/anal fins.

Too soon to tell I know but I figured it was worth the ask since I went ahead and vented them during a big water change this weekend.


Side note, Convicts as dithers was a bad idea. They made babies like they do and at around 2"'s started beating up on the 6" +/- umbee's pretty fiercely even in the 260gal. Noted.

 

[the animal guy]

Female

 

[JCorso]

Both? ..No way

 

[JCorso]

More evidence trying to sex Umbee's prematurely is a pretty silly thing to attempt. The fatty hasn't turned yellow yet (7.5") but they've been doing the tail slapping, gill flaring, hanging out together in dugouts, pre-spawning activities usual for every cichlid I'm familiar with. Coincidentally, the presumed "he" killed two other fish in the tank within 36 hours of this behavior beginning (A convict growout and another juvenile Umbee). Regardless of what gender they turn out to be they've officially earned their own tank and a much closer eye on their behavior.

 

[JCorso]

The one I guessed was female is. (Pictured).

Read it somewhere else on here.. but I'd wager it may be true that females grow faster initially (or males more slowly) until they begin to near sexual maturity (in the 8-10" range).

The one I'd guessed was male is sparkly blue all over with very long fin trailers and though was smaller at the time if the initial post is now nearly twice her size and is beginning to develop a nice nuchal hump.

They're getting along well. Some lip locking and tail slapping but they hang out in the same pit most nights.

 

[JCorso]

Terrible pics (cell phone). But this one is 10" if I'm being conservative. It rarely swims past the 12" strip of painters tape on the front panel but if he's not there yet he's close.

 

[sbrady5pts]

Really nice umbee!

 

[Boomer1224]

beautiful fish