Help sexing Cuban cichlid

anzo1993

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
Jun 25, 2016
957
909
115
Canada
Hello, about a month ago I got a baby Cuban cichlid about 1 inch now about 2.5 inches, I know still very young and possibly unsexable but wonder if anyone had a guess?

IMG_1834.jpeg

IMG_1823.jpeg
 

duanes

MFK Moderators
Staff member
Moderator
MFK Member
Jun 7, 2007
21,060
26,444
2,910
Isla Taboga Panama via Milwaukee
Too young.
This 1st one below is a female
1705893723585.png1705893222562.png
The females have a more torpedo shaped head, and body, a solid dark area in the dorsal fin, more solid dark markings on the body, and generally stay smaller than males.
Now below a male in the shots below, he is about 10".
1705893341987.png1705893369272.png
You will notice the forehead, is more steep, the general, overall markings are more mottled as opposed to solid dark, and males get much larger .
1705893592627.png1705893656222.png
When they are together the differences are more dramatic,

1705893489451.png

1705893555684.png

1705893574448.png
 

Attachments

  • Like
Reactions: keystonewma

anzo1993

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
Jun 25, 2016
957
909
115
Canada
Hello again it’s been abit of time and the Cuban is about 4.5 inches now and growing well, wondering if anyone can sex the Cuban now that it’s abit bigger

IMG_2785.jpeg
 

Roger Mcfish

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Dec 2, 2023
99
126
36
41
Hard to tell with the lighter substrate. I want to say female by looking at first picture. Does it change color during feeding? I noticed mine darken a bit especially at feeding. This is one of my females.IMG_20240413_171840297.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: anzo1993

anzo1993

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
Jun 25, 2016
957
909
115
Canada
Very tricky with this one I find, my last male Cuban by this size had already gotten pretty chunky and the body much taller so I’m leaning more towards female
 
  • Like
Reactions: Roger Mcfish

Roger Mcfish

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Dec 2, 2023
99
126
36
41
Just by seeing the faded stripes as mentioned for the first pic, I want to say female. But the last picture almost spotted like a male. Is it by itself in a tank? They'll colored up pretty good if there's others in a tank with it.
But also noted mine are over dark substrate.
 
  • Like
Reactions: anzo1993

anzo1993

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
Jun 25, 2016
957
909
115
Canada
Just by seeing the faded stripes as mentioned for the first pic, I want to say female. But the last picture almost spotted like a male. Is it by itself in a tank? They'll colored up pretty good if there's others in a tank with it.
But also noted mine are over dark substrate.
Yeah it’s alone in the tank so it’s tough to tell sometimes has the colouration of a male other times the dark markings of a female, the body shape and size is the only thing making me assume female, my last male almost grew similar to a male Flowerhorn
 

Roger Mcfish

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Dec 2, 2023
99
126
36
41
Does it color up prior to feeding? All of mine color up like crazy right when they about to get fed.
 
zoomed.com
hikariusa.com
aqaimports.com
Store