Sexing apistogramma cacatuoides

[Mellowaquatics]

How’s it going fish people, picked up some triple reds today. Just wanted someone else’s opinion to be sure I had a male and female. First two photos are the supposed female, and third is the male.
Just wanted to get another opinion on if I have a female and male here or not.

 

[yukondog]

Welcome to the sight Mellowaquatics, M/F, the female looks pretty stressed. Is there more plants then what we see?

 

[Mellowaquatics]

Not at the moment, although they were just added to the tank a few hours before the photo. Do you think I have a M&F here?

 

[Flyfisha]

Hi Mellowaquatics Welcome to fishlore

Yes that’s a male and female. A terracotta pot or 5 on their sides would be a good place to start . Wood and plants with the lights turned down. An IAL might give a little cover ?

 

[Mellowaquatics]

Appreciate the reply flyfisha, currently got two apisto caves coming in the mail. Gonna use oak leaves as well to lower ph and add tannins

 

[yukondog]

Do you think I have a M&F here?

Yes

 

[chromedome52]

Even if the first fish is female (which I am doubting), it is a different strain than the triple red male. Some females of the heavily inbred forms of A. cacatuoides can have a lot of male pattern color in the fins, but they should still be the same color as the male. A normally colored female would not have the markings of your fish. And I have never seen females with actual points on the tail fin, and your fish does show points. Also, the ventrals are a bit long for a female, and not dark enough.

I would say not likely to be a female; definitely not a triple red.

 

[PAcanis]

Even if the first fish is female (which I am doubting), it is a different strain than the triple red male. Some females of the heavily inbred forms of A. cacatuoides can have a lot of male pattern color in the fins, but they should still be the same color as the male. A normally colored female would not have the markings of your fish. And I have never seen females with actual points on the tail fin, and your fish does show points. Also, the ventrals are a bit long for a female, and not dark enough.

I would say not likely to be a female; definitely not a triple red.

I thought I was the only one seeing that.
I recently had my Cacatuoides go through this age. I was told here they were both females at this age.


Then one turned into a male, but I still had this one, who I was told was a female.


And then a couple weeks later


And by this time he was really getting harassed by the dominant male.
So I moved him.


This was the one "female" who turned into the dominant male. Taken the same day


And now that the sneaker male is in his own tank


This was in the span of a few weeks.
I'm thinking that when they are young it is truly best educated guess.

ETA: I uploaded the wrong pic a couple pics up, but you get the idea. He was basically starting to color up and barely had points on his tail when I moved him.

 

[MacZ]

Even if the first fish is female (which I am doubting), it is a different strain than the triple red male. Some females of the heavily inbred forms of A. cacatuoides can have a lot of male pattern color in the fins, but they should still be the same color as the male. A normally colored female would not have the markings of your fish. And I have never seen females with actual points on the tail fin, and your fish does show points. Also, the ventrals are a bit long for a female, and not dark enough.

I would say not likely to be a female; definitely not a triple red.

Agree to the t. I have also doubts the "female" is actually a female due to the shape of the caudal.

 

[yukondog]

Did not catch the start of the lyre tail, I agree with above.

 

[Flyfisha]

Ok . I agree with what others have said. It’s possible that is not a female in the pictures in post #1