Which male festae to keep?

[axs377]

First I apologize no pics...One is in the sump for shredding the other. Oddly enough the smaller one owned the larger.

With that I only want one male, which I have 3 of currently. 2 other festae I have I am certain one is female and the last undecided on since it is small is very spangled and has the dark bar like a female.

So which that who would you keep:

Male#1: larger, potential taller fish which I like and covered in spangles. Downside is his colors are more cream and green and fins aren't very red, more maroon in color.

Male#2: smaller, but younger. Rediculous red fins and bright yellow body, but almost not spangling on his caudal fin and only on the lower half of his dorsal fin.

I can't keep both because they hate each other...lol

 

[BIG-G]

its hard to say. The color can vary so much from day to day with Festae. You really wont know their ture potential until they are grown up quit a bit.
I wouldnt look to color to make a decision. I would look at over all health and body type, fin shape and personality.
How big are they?

 

[axs377]

The smaller maybe 4-5" the larger maybe 6". Both have good fin shape and body shape. The little one is an f'ing wreaking ball except towards the female. The bigger one has only been in my tank for a day and is more passive. He is only about and inch longer than the smaller male, but much more filled out. Despite the size he got owned very quickly by the little guy, hence why the little one is in the sump.

 

[Covetous]

+1 for what BIG-G said l

 

[MP_cichlid]

ya, with festae it can vary greatly. for example, here is a picture of vulcan when i first got him vs now which is only 5 months later. Breeding dress can be a verrryyy big difference.

 

[axs377]

Great looking fish. Yeah could likely be small guy is in breeding dress and the big guy isn't at the moment. I've also noticed the bigger one has some black in his pectoral fins and at the outside edge of his caudal fin...Do you think that's just stress?

 

[MP_cichlid]

it would be a lot easier to tell with pics, from just description its not really possible

 

[axs377]

ok for sure would be easier. first pic is the little guy a little over a month ago and the later are the new guy freshly shredded up.

 

[MP_cichlid]

personally I would keep the smaller one. But they both have good potential. But the first pic looks like a better fish IMO. The other one is the first pic is female and obviously so is the one in breeding dress. I would keep the smaller male with the 2 females and let him pair off with one of them.

 

[Covetous]

Pic number one just looks more dominant to me. The beat up one is showing faded colors as to try not to piss the dominant one off. I'd keep the first.