Cichlids Fighting Or Breeding?

I bought two convict cichlids, one with an orange belly I know as a matter of fact to be female but she is always fighting with the other one and I am not sure if the other is a female as well because my intention was to breed them but I'm not sure with them fighting if it is a male. Can anyone help sex this fish, or let me know if they fight before breeding?

 

Looks like a male. Too small of a tank could cause fighting.

 

I was hoping so. Haha, it's a 30 gal with tons of hiding spots, is that to small for the pair of them? I never had more than one cichlid of any kind together in that small of a tank so I'm in the blue here

 

Eh I don’t think so if they’re the only fish in the tank. So how are they fighting? He doesn’t appear stressed to me.

 

Eh I don’t think so if they’re the only fish in the tank. So how are they fighting? He doesn’t appear stressed to me.

He keeps on biting at her fins and chasing her about the tank, at one point she turned around and bit him back and they bit each others lips and started spinning. Since then she's been super inactive and sitting on her side, she doesn't seem very happy

 

It's best to condition them (especially the female) with proper water conditions and good nutrition when intending to breed them. Maybe you could use a divider until you see she is ready to lay eggs?

 

It's best to condition them (especially the female) with proper water conditions and good nutrition when intending to breed them. Maybe you could use a divider until you see she is ready to lay eggs?

Ye a divider sounds like a good investment cause he hasn't been letting her eat as of late

 

Yeah, I had to recently divide a proven pair of angels because the male started beating on her. I tried to reunite them once she healed, but she remembered and was overreacting to his advances in terror. So they are still separated.

 

Yeah, I had to recently divide a proven pair of angels because the male started beating on her. I tried to reunite them once she healed, but she remembered and was overreacting to his advances in terror. So they are still separated.

Rip, they need marriage counseling