Sexing young apistogramma cacatuides?

[sahenson21]

Good morning!

We have several spawns of apistos growing out, but I am finding it difficult to sex the young fish. What are the best signs to look for to know for sure that it is male/female?

We have them in growout tanks, so I am always worried that there will be sub-males that appear to be female. I am also just not confident picking out young females at all.

Please help!

 

[MacZ]

It's 3 in the afternoon, but hello!

Are they domestic fish? (Colour breeds?) If so this is not the easiest, as by now females have been bred to look almost like males including fin colouration and shapes.

Generally: Under 4cm it's virtually only guessing.

 

[sahenson21]

Thank you for the response! They're triple reds if that helps.

What are the first things to look for to differentiate them as they get to that 4cm mark

 

[Mike Wise]

If it's guarding eggs/fry then it's a female. Stupid I know but true and couldn't help myself. In all honesty if you can't sex them then there is no easy way to sex them. One option is to put all the fish in 1 tank and remove males to another tank as they become obvious. The problem with this is that there have been indications that apisto females can possibly change to males in the absence of males.

 

[MacZ]

They're triple reds if that helps.

High chances of male attributes in females...