Umbee, sorting out a male.

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

At what size was he when you could tell he was a male and what specific trait made you sure he was a male? I have some grow outs at the moment, do males grow faster?

From my experience males do not grow faster at juvenile stage. Females growth only slowed down when they start to produce spawn.
As the juveniles grow they all look identical. The only sure way to tell sex is when two pair off. Colours change over night. Mine have paired off at 6 inch. The most important part is rock rocks and more rock. I'm expecting spawn and wigglers from my second male any day soon. Picture of 6inch fish pairing.

 

[Freshwaterpredators]

At what size was he when you could tell he was a male and what specific trait made you sure he was a male? I have some grow outs at the moment, do males grow faster?

Should be able to tell around 3-3.5" and I wouldn't use the theory that males grow faster.. I've had plenty of beast females out grow my males till 6"

 

[Freshwaterpredators]

Terror r us, try posting pics in different thread and I can help you sex your umbees.. I've had pairs spawn at 3.5" umbees can be tricky to sex sometimes

 

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

Terror r us, try posting pics in different thread and I can help you sex your umbees.. I've had pairs spawn at 3.5" umbees can be tricky to sex sometimes

Yes they can breed at 3.5inch. And often do. There easy to sex when showing breeding dress. The problem is if there not breeding or pairing. They all look the same at 3.5 inch.

 

[terrors r us]

Terror r us, try posting pics in different thread and I can help you sex your umbees.. I've had pairs spawn at 3.5" umbees can be tricky to sex sometimes

I appreciate that! I tried to get some pic's with my iphone today but not good pic's.
I am charging my regular camera so I can zoom in and will post pic's tomorrow or the next day.
Still have another problem.....I have 5 or 6 Black Gorillus umbie and 3 or 4 Rio M. Umbie in a 600 gallon tank. I can't tell anymore which the Rio M. Umbies are...lol
It's easy to spot the larger black Umbies (thinking males)(they have a beautiful coloration of red and blue on them)
To make things worst I also have 3 to 4, C.Spectaculas in there but I can usually spot them out.
Also I'm starting to see quite a difference in size.
Later

 

[Freshwaterpredators]

Yes they can breed at 3.5inch. And often do. There easy to sex when showing breeding dress. The problem is if there not breeding or pairing. They all look the same at 3.5 inch.

I appreciate that! I tried to get some pic's with my iphone today but not good pic's.
I am charging my regular camera so I can zoom in and will post pic's tomorrow or the next day.
Still have another problem.....I have 5 or 6 Black Gorillus umbie and 3 or 4 Rio M. Umbie in a 600 gallon tank. I can't tell anymore which the Rio M. Umbies are...lol
It's easy to spot the larger black Umbies (thinking males)(they have a beautiful coloration of red and blue on them)
To make things worst I also have 3 to 4, C.Spectaculas in there but I can usually spot them out.
Also I'm starting to see quite a difference in size.
Later

Very easy to tell them apart.. Mags have blue freckles.. Gorillus do not

 

[Freshwaterpredators]

Yes they can breed at 3.5inch. And often do. There easy to sex when showing breeding dress. The problem is if there not breeding or pairing. They all look the same at 3.5 inch.

Sorry but they don't often breed at 3.5".. Only ones that do at that size grew out slow. If you have group A that grew out really fast, then you won't get pairs until closer to 5 or 6" group B takes twice as long to grow or the runts from group A are older and more mature to breed at smaller sizes. Umbees can be tricky to sex but after you have more experience with umbees, then you'll be able to see differences earlier on

 

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

Sorry but they don't often breed at 3.5".. Only ones that do at that size grew out slow. If you have group A that grew out really fast, then you won't get pairs until closer to 5 or 6" group B takes twice as long to grow or the runts from group A are older and more mature to breed at smaller sizes. Umbees can be tricky to sex but after you have more experience with umbees, then you'll be able to see differences earlier on

Hope I can sort males out at 3.5 inch when I have more experience. Here in the UK there are fish keepers crying out for a male Umbee. Both my males never looked male to me. Until pairing at 5 to 6 inch.
I've had tanks of 8 in the past, and one by one they all end up spawning, some as small as 3.5 to 4inch. They whole batch female.
3 years ago 5 so called pairs can into the UK from cota at 4inch. They where £130 a pair. Out of the 10 fish we only ended up with 2 males.
So there's cichlid keepers here who would love males. So any tips would be very much appreciated.

 

[Andy woods cichlids uk]

Hope I can sort males out at 3.5 inch when I have more experience. Here in the UK there are fish keepers crying out for a male Umbee. Both my males never looked male to me. Until pairing at 5 to 6 inch.
I've had tanks of 8 in the past, and one by one they all end up spawning, some as small as 3.5 to 4inch. They whole batch female.
3 years ago 5 so called pairs can into the UK from cota at 4inch. They where £130 a pair. Out of the 10 fish we only ended up with 2 males.
So there's cichlid keepers here who would love males. So any tips would be very much appreciated.

View attachment 1170271

Just another pic of my first pair. I'm very proud of these, as its taken me a lot of time and money, and loads of females lol

 

[dan518]

Hi i Would also like tips on sexing young umbees, never been able to do it.