Coryd55

Confused on whether this is a male or female Metriaclima greshakei.

We took one of the male M. greshakei's out and sold him to our local Petland for $5. Then the "female" decided to color up like a male. He/she colors up like a male around the newly added Msobo's but like a female around the male M. greshakei.

Any ideas on what sex the fish is or ways to sex him/her?


Thanks for the help,
Cory

Below are pictures of the fish in question

Attached Images

	DSC04224.jpg (203.9 KB, 3 views)
	DSC04222.jpg (228.9 KB, 6 views)
	DSC05488.jpg (179.9 KB, 4 views)

steveangela1

I would say male, they can get a little darker in the tank, my females are red that I have the male gets to be a darker blue at times then he is the "ice blue" color. Im sure Allie will be able to give a pos m/f id. (thats the top to photos right? the bottom looks like a female)

Allie

You have a male, by the looks of the the pix.
Females look like this
Males look like this

Coryd55

Its all the same fish. Thats what is weird. Bottom looks like female and top like male. It changes back and forth.


You think just a subdominate male?

Allie

or a dominant female. Our sub dominant fella was dark blue with stripes most of the time. Eggs spots usually tell the difference...let me go look at the pix again. It seems to have 3 egg spots on his anal fin. Most likely subdominant male.

Coryd55

Yea he has eggspots. So probably a male.

Thats no good. Now my mom has 2 males, used to be 3. No wonder there was so much aggression....


Thanks Alli and steveangela

FishFolk

Hey there,
Mom here. Still making sure. This fish has been a stumper. The flash really bleached him/her out. He/she isn't that light. When the he/she colors it is not like the known male. She doesn't go blue but stays a muted, grayish with the stripes getting dark and pronounced. The pix looks like she /he is the same as the male but isn't. Also the fin coloring is darker, more muted. I thought females could have egg spots too. So...would the subdominant male act like a female? Circling, nudging egg spot,etc? The known male responds like he would to a female. He shimmies, lays on his side and circles.

Is there a sure fire way to tell? I mean other than the appearance of fry . If I could catch him/her, would venting help?

aaaaaugh - the joys of fish keeping

Allie

Females have lighter eggs spots or none at all. Usually 3 or less. Greyshakei females seem to be egg spotless.