Sexing the Dwarf Cockatoo Cichlid

[Gomer]

I have recently bought one Dwarf Cockatoo Cichlid, and have ordered in 3 more. I am wanting to determine the sex of mine, and my future ones.

Could someone give me a method or outline in which i can follow to sex Dwarf Cockatoo Cichlids.

-- Gomer

 

[Zapisto]

check the pelvienne fins.
if they are black the fish is a female

this method work at 98% on speciment who is not extremely highly inbreed.

Up to date i found only two fish who make the exceptions.

 

[Rolo]

Up to date i found only two fish who make the exceptions.

Which ones?

greetings,
Rolo

 

[Zapisto]

Up to date i found only two fish who make the exceptions.

Which ones?

greetings,
Rolo

this one : http://www.ca.sakura.ne.jp/~adh/gallery/Images/apcm19980906-01.jpg

and the other i have to found it ion my fav :roll:

 

[ae48473]

Zapisto, that photo is of a female?

 

[Rolo]

this one : http://www.ca.sakura.ne.jp/~adh/gallery/Images/apcm19980906-01.jpg
and the other i have to found it ion my fav :roll:

Well, obviously I misunderstood you ;-)
You meant two FISHES within the species A. cacatuoides.... I though you meant two species where the females would't get black fins ;-)
...because the black ventral fins are a way to determine young females not only at A. cacatuoides, but much more species.

@ae48473:
No, it's a male, but with black ventral fins.

greetings,
Rolo

 

[Gomer]

My little A. cacatuiodes has black ventral fins like the one in that link. But the black extends all the way to the tip of the fin and the membrane part on the ventral fins is a light orange/peach colour.

So this is a female fish?

-- Gomer

 

[fishgeek]

my trifasciata have black on the pectoral fins, i still think that they may be male
the black, much like in the cacatoides pic is no extending the length of the fin, just close to the body

any comments

andrew

 

[Neil]

Gomer,

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

Black markings, in of themselves, are not entirely reliable to determine sex, because of behavioral variability in fish related to those markings. However, the anterior (front) edge of the ventral fin in mature individuals can be diagnostic. Add to these markings another characteristic or 2 and you likely can figure out what you have. The pic above has other predominant male characteristics, such as a lyretail, extended rays(first several) on the dorsal and elongate filaments on the dorsal and ventral. Although I have seen fully mature female cacatuoides with extensions on all fins, including a marginal lyretail, I have never seen a female with as developed fin rays as the one in the pic.
The red and black reticulations are also important, but must be taken as part of the whole picture. Really good cacatuoides females can have those markings on any fin that the male does, especially the caudal (which can sometimes be largely covered). However, they usually don't have as "deep" of a color to them.
You kind of have to look at the whole picture to make a valid distinction. If you haven't seen it yet, here is an article about that:

http://www.apistogramma.com/cms/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=27

I am guessing that you have a female.

Neil

 

[Zapisto]

this one : http://www.ca.sakura.ne.jp/~adh/gallery/Images/apcm19980906-01.jpg
and the other i have to found it ion my fav :roll:

Well, obviously I misunderstood you ;-)
You meant two FISHES within the species A. cacatuoides.... I though you meant two species where the females would't get black fins ;-)
...because the black ventral fins are a way to determine young females not only at A. cacatuoides, but much more species.

@ae48473:
No, it's a male, but with black ventral fins.

greetings,
Rolo

ho sorry rolo.
i have to admit what i write can be misunderstood

yes , i was talking within the species A. cacatuoides.

and concerning other species, i didn't make lot of search and comparaison.
but if my memory is good A. eunotus doesn't follow this rules.
and some other also.

@ Gomer :
Yes , seems to me a female

@ fishgeek :
As i say, me i believe in this rule for A. cacatuoides.
the fact of other species follow this rule is probably rigth , but didn't get any confirmation.
for trifasciata i really dont klnow if you apply this rules safely.


@ ae48473 :
No, it's a male, but with black ventral fins.
so it an exception to the rules