UMBEE

[BIG_CICHLID]

My largest "Female" Umbee, wild caught, is starting to show signs of a pink hue on the head...... she's around 9" or so................... I know that the colour is indicative of a male, but as "she's" taken so long to get this colouration, I wondered about the sex!! ???? Can anyone advise?
BC

 

[mbunafishkeeper]

My largest "Female" Umbee, wild caught, is starting to show signs of a pink hue on the head...... she's around 9" or so................... I know that the colour is indicative of a male, but as "she's" taken so long to get this colouration, I wondered about the sex!! ???? Can anyone advise?
BC

she/he sounds great, have you got a pic, that might help, although im no expert with umbee's.

 

[BIG_CICHLID]

Some background first, The largest fish was from Jeff Rapps indirectly as a "wild female" (Umbee 1), the other 3 are from Don Conkel. I suspect the largest of these three to be a male (Umbee 2), The next in size I suspect to be a sub-dominant male (Umbee 3) and the smallest a female, purely because of her size (Umbee 4).
Here they are:
*Umbee 1*
.......... under her bogwood, a bit camera shy.

*Umbee 2*

*Umbee 3*

*Umbee 4*

BC

 

[jasonmac978]

Awesome fish!!!JM978

 

[BIG_CICHLID]

Thanks and ................ GO PATRIOTS!!!

BC

 

[PMK]

Ive read that if they are stressed and show any black on the dorsal fin its female. Males trailers get longer at about 6-8 inches the males heads turn that copper kind of color and intersting one is that the males body is always playing catch up to the head since it supposedly grows faster. I never been able to grow them out to erify but i get told these all the time so hopefully it helps.

 

[BIG_CICHLID]

Thanks PMK! That is of some help! What's confused me is that the "Female's" head is beginning to go rust coloured, slightly, but this is new. Not sure, I will test your theory next time they look a bit stressed. I have noticed the sub-dominant display being turned off and on as to the hierarchy and who they are displaying to. Great fish!

BC

 

[PMK]

Thanks PMK! That is of some help! What's confused me is that the "Female's" head is beginning to go rust coloured, slightly, but this is new. Not sure, I will test your theory next time they look a bit stressed. I have noticed the sub-dominant display being turned off and on as to the hierarchy and who they are displaying to. Great fish!

BC

I currently have 14 umbees as small as .25 of an inch (10) then i got 3 that are about 2 inches and 1 that is about 6 inches. I read on these and other forums about there aggression towards the same species so once they get to about the 2-3 inch size i am seperating them so that way i wont lose any to aggression since iver heard of the females becoming the dominment one in the beginning and killing all the males. I dont know if this is true but i rather be safe then sorry.

 

[Surgeon]

I would like to buy an Caquetaia Umbriferus and i would like to know all you know about Umbee.

 

[Surgeon]

How would be the best way for me to get a male Umbee.