Sexing A. Cacatuoides

I recently bought this pair of A. cacatuoides and I just wanted to make sure I have a male and female. They were sold as Double-reds..

 

Looks like two males.

 

Looks like two males.

What makes you say that?

 

Here's a better picture of her

 

That smaller one is definitely tough to tell! These strains are often so inbred that the natural physical differences between sexes are really starting to blur.
In the first photo the smaller "female" does not really have the black-bordered ventral fins that a female should have. It does have a lot more color in the unpaired fins than would be expected for a female. It lacks the dorsal fin extensions that a male would have yet has a lyrate caudal fin.....
At this point I think that the best way to tell will be by watching their behavior...
Good luck!

 

That smaller one is definitely tough to tell! These strains are often so inbred that the natural physical differences between sexes are really starting to blur.
In the first photo the smaller "female" does not really have the black-bordered ventral fins that a female should have. It does have a lot more color in the unpaired fins than would be expected for a female but also lacks dorsal fin extensions...
At this point I think that the best way to tell will be by watching their behavior...
Good luck!

yeah it's weird one of her ventral fins is half black and the other has more orange to it....

 

yeah it's weird one of her ventral fins is half black and the other has more orange to it....

Are you sure it is black? I have seen "sneaker males" with very very dark blue ventrals that occasionally lightened up. Females should always be black though. Either way that seems to be one messed up apisto! Good luck!

 

Are you sure it is black? I have seen "sneaker males" with very very dark blue ventrals that occasionally lightened up. Females should always be black though. Either way that seems to be one messed up apisto! Good luck!

I've been checking all day and its black like the markings on her face. shes also much rounder in body shape...

 

Hmm I would've also said 2 males... the one has a lot of colour (beautiful fish!) And the other looks much more dull but still seems to have more colour than what's normal on a female...

 

Look to me more like Triple Red, anal, caudal, and dorsal fins are all red. Females of these inbred domestic strains do have a lot of color, even some male finnage. I agree that you will have to watch and wait. Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

I picked up a second female today from the same place since I had wanted to do a trio anyways and she's just as colourful as the first one. The only difference is that her ventral fins are both black and the first one has one of them black and the other orange..

 

Can anyone tell me if the smaller one is a female or sneaker male

 

I would guess female....

coralbandit
jmaldo

 

yukondog

I'm guessing female as well.

 

I would guess female....

coralbandit
jmaldo

yukondog

I'm guessing female as well.

That is what I'm guessing also lol

 

Can you get a better pict. of the fish.

 

Thinking both look male to me ?

 

Can you get a better pict. of the fish.

Thinking both look male to me ?

Best pic I cud get

 

How do they get along ?
The alpha male knows what sex the other fish is for sure ...

 

How do they get along ?
The alpha male knows what sex the other fish is for sure ...

They get along great and them kill any other fish I put in the tank

 

It's had to see in the pict. but is there any start of a lyre tail?

 

It's had to see in the pict. but is there any start of a lyre tail?

Irrelevant in the Double/Triple Red strain, females often have excessive color and fins. However, the black ventral fins strongly suggest female, but it should be much more yellow.

 

Thinking both look male to me ?

Irrelevant in the Double/Triple Red strain, females often have excessive color and fins. However, the black ventral fins strongly suggest female, but it should be much more yellow.

Can you get a better pict. of the fish.

Ok so today I saw it yellowed up an belly got very slI'm is this a sign of a female?

 

Yellow would be that of a female ...

 

Yellow would be that of a female ...

Yes it is a female they have eggs. I know it's the first spawn so eggs may get eaten

 

Good luck on the eggs, sometimes it takes a time or two before they get it wright. If they do hatch she should turn more yellow as she brings them out.

 

Good morning,

I have just bought a pair of apistos in an attempt at growing them out and breeding them however I’m not 100% sure that iv got a male and a female any help would be greatly appreciated. My LFS said I’d be able to go back and exchange it if for a female if I do have 2 males. I have had success breeding my sparkling gouramis, cherry shrimp and kribs also some live bearers. But have got stumped on the first hurdle

 

Hi Hiltonjj02.
This is a female from what I can see .?

She should be about half the size?

Actually they start laying eggs at an early age. A wou put a large Pleco cave in the tank now as she appears to have the yellow breeding colours?

I believe live baby brine are an important part of successfully breeding these fish. Even before any dancing or eggs I feed live baby brine daily to the adults. You say you have some experience with Kribensis and live bearers. These fry are tiny . To small to eat baby brine on day one. I use the description of half a grain of sand with a tail as a size indicator .
edit .
They will case each other even as a pair.

 

Hi flyfisha,
She is indeed around half the size of the male. I have a pleco cave I used for my bristle nose that I gave to friend a while back (she had a massive algae issue, which he sorted right out) so iv just got the cave sitting in the back amongst the with the plants. I normally get baby brine from my friend as he has a hatchery as and when I want to bread. might have to invest in one though now you have said this. Cheers mate

 

Looks like a boy and girl to me as well. In my experience, Apistgramma fry are quite large, and I have yet to find a species that is too small to consume BBS on day 1 free swimming

 

Looks like a pair, and I agree with above on them being able to eat bbs from day one, I breed the Cacs. and others and they get feed bbs from day one.

 

Ok I must be wrong in my assumption that tiny day old apistogramma fry can’t eat baby brine that appear to be of equal size. So many people have said they can not only on this thread but also on other posts on this site I must be wrong, sorry Hiltonjj02 ? . I will continue to maintain my vinegar eel cultures as a first food to supplement any wild Infusorea that might be a food source in the adults tank because we all do things our own way after all.

I will add Hiltonjj02 if and when you do get fry be careful with the volume of each of the daily feedings because it is possible to kill the 10 day old fry by feeding to much bb at one time.

 

Ok I must be wrong in my assumption that tiny day old apistogramma fry can’t eat baby brine

Not necessarily, I'm sure there are apisto's and other cichlids that cant eat them first off. I can say that I breed the Mac's, Cac's, Borellii, Agassizii and Viejita and all are able to eat bbs after yolk sack is absorbed.

 

Ok I must be wrong in my assumption that tiny day old apistogramma fry can’t eat baby brine that appear to be of equal size.

I’d love to say you are wrong…. But… with the difference in size between artemia the Great Salt Lake and San Francisco Bay, I would be totally unsurprised if the artemia used down under wasn’t significantly larger than what we are accustomed to here. Is that a thing?

 

Hey LowConducttivity,
You may have part of the answer?

I actually was watching the video today and the poster mentions an especially small species of brine shrimp which I had no idea was available.

I can’t seem to buy the same can twice with the supply situation down under. I do like this brand but can’t guarantee it will be available when next I try an order some.
yes it is a thing

 

Hey LowConducttivity,
You may have part of the answer?

I actually was watching the video today and the poster mentions an especially small species of brine shrimp which I had no idea was available.

I can’t seem to buy the same can twice with the supply situation down under. I do like this brand but can’t guarantee it will be available when next I try an order some.View attachment 799597yes it is a thing

Ha! Isn’t this everybody's thing?

SF Bay artemia are smaller….and more expensive…lol

 

That could be why mine can eat them, thats the brand I use.

 

I’ve used both, and both are acceptable in terms of size. $34/lb vs $55/lb makes the choice easy for me. Great Salt Lake for the win IMO