Vieja Synspilum males or females?

[Plum7]

Hey,

I have 2 vieja synspilum fish and was wondering what are the sex of these 2 fish? 2 males or 2 females or 1 male 1 female? if male and a female is there a chance they may mate later on? was told by previous owner they are a pair but unsure about that as these 2 fish at times charge at each other and usually the fish in the second photo always charges at the first picture fish and the first fish will tilt sideways and usually do a wave when that pic 2 fish charges at it. Pic 1 fish has recently gotten darker in colour and will chase off all other fish in tank except the pic 2 mate. At times pic 1 fish will shake its body as well. Overall they don't damage hurt each other too much. Please let me know thanks.

 

[dan518]

They look more like paratheraps bifasciatus to me then synspilum.
Top looks female second pic male but that's only a guess I could be wrong.

 

[Jonnycichlid6]

Quick and dirty way to tell from what others have told me on these forums is blue eyes male, yellow female

 

[Plum7]

thank you for your replies, i looked at the eyes of both and top one has blue eyes and second one has yellowish eyes so i guess first one is male second one is female. Will they breed at this size or do i have to wait till they are more mature and are bigger? the 2nd pic female at times will charge at the male and the male will shake his body and wave when she does so..There is other fish in the tank and the male chases all of them away but does not harm her. They also sometimes charge and peck each other mouth to mouth. Do you think they might bond and pair up? I'm hoping they will be a mated pair but their behavior seems confusing to me thanks.

 

[dan518]

Females can get blue eyes, not as common but not a sure way to sex them, sounds like there starting mating behaviour, the male will normally be the bigger more aggressive out the two. Lip locking is normal, test of strength, cichlid love is rough at times.

 

[Plum7]

Oh good to know and yes the male does show much more aggression than the female for sure. I did notice the female cleaning some of the rocks on the bottom of the tank in their territory she cleaned it only briefly he will do the same with the surrounding rocks. I put a flat rock under the cave if she ever lays she could use it. Attached is them together sleeping at night currently in their territory.

 

[Plum7]

He is for sure bigger by a little bit than her I was also told females tend to have rounder bodies and males are longer and bigger with hump developing when he is mature?

 

[dan518]

He is for sure bigger by a little bit than her I was also told females tend to have rounder bodies and males are longer and bigger with hump developing when he is mature?

Profile of the forehead, males will be steeper,

 

[Plum7]

Profile of the forehead, males will be steeper,

looked at both fish and yes the male does have a steeper forehead thanks again for all your help now I'm hoping these 2 will mate and hoping the female will spawn looks like they flirt alot as I have seen them both wave, shake their tails at each other swimming by.

 

[dan518]

Quite alright mate, biffas are great fish and will look stunning when there settled.