ID and sex them, please?

[dwarflover]

I'm having a little trouble determing what these are. They were sold to me as a mated pair of Laetacara curviceps, but I'm starting to learn towards them being Laetacara dorsigera. They have the red bellies. Expecially when they are flirting. The stipe goes all the way across the body too. (although, in the pics it may be hard to tell)

I have ideas on whos who, but I've never owned these fish until a little over a month ago, so help would nice!

The female (who I think is female, the red belly is not visible in these pics. Couldn't get her in breeding color, but yes, she does have it)

And who I think is the male:

So hopefully that is enough for you to help me out!

~Thanks in advance

 

[Mike Wise]

I think that you're correct. They are L. dorsigera and you probably sexed them correctly - if the fish are fully grown. How long are they?

 

[dwarflover]

Great! The "female" is around 2.5 inches and the "male" is close to three.
They were a tiny bit smaller when I got them and looked almost identicle. Since then I've seen long finage devloping on the "male".

Also, this morning right before I went to to turn the light on, I saw them having another one of those "stareoff" sort of things
and then they locked mouth and did some tail whacking....interesting..
never bred these guys before, so I'm not entirely sure if thats good or not. But I've had experience with other dwarfs, so i have the idea..

Thanks for your help!

 

[wethumbs]

I would take a pair of L. dorsigera over L. curviceps any day.

 

[Mike Wise]

It really depends on the color morph of each species. Both have very colorful morph and less colorful morphs.