New Member

Posts: 2
From:Tehachapi, Ca, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-16-2003 04:17 PM         

---

I was wondering how you tell the difference between male and female jewel chiclids and/or other chiclids.

thank you.

[This message has been edited by Dirt_Rider (edited 12-16-2003).]

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 194
From:Sterling Heights, MI, U.S.A.
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 12-16-2003 05:25 PM         

---

well, since i have a mting pair i mite be able 2 help. the female is smaller and duz not seem to have AS MUCH coloration, even tho she is colorful....also, the female seems to have mor of a brite orange-red coloration while the male has a darker red coloration. hope this helps

IP: Logged

Moderator

Posts: 806
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 12-16-2003 10:12 PM         

---

Hello Dirt_Rider, Contrary to grnlemonade's pair the female is usually the larger of the species. The males are generally brighter in coloration as he suggested. The tail coloration was one of the easiest ways to distinguish between male and female Jewel Cichlids, but years of farm raising Jewels has almost made this distinction vanish. On the trailing edge of the tail the male has a two row pattern of blue stars on the upper 1/3 of the tail. On the female the two rows of blue stars follows the whole trailing edge of the tail. As I said before this characteristic coloration has almost vanished to where both the male and female have the two rows of stars only on the upper 1/3 of the tail fin. It may be possible for grnlemonade to be confused regarding male and female due to the fact that once the fry are free swimming it is the male that takes care of the nest. It is relatively easy to tell when Jewel's are going to spawn. Both the male's and the female's colors will be much brighter. They will have a hollowed out place in the gravel, and they will have even the largest fish cornered to the far end of the tank.

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)