EB Texas Cichlids

[bcpits]

I purchased 4 of these guys but I don't see the black mark on any of them to indicate female. How accurate is the black mark technique? Is this
noticeable at a small size? These are at 4.5-6" fish . I have tried to vent , but its not as clear as I have hope -i'm very new to them . ive been mainly into to Malawi -larger predator haps for a while so my switch over is very new. I do have pictures I can share

 

[duanes]

At 4 - 6", they are mature. Beside the dark dorsal blotch, the cranial profile is another gender indicator.
Not quite sure about the name EB Texas means, if EB means some kind of line bred, aquarium strain type tinkering, gender differences could be obscured.
To me a Texas cichlid is Herichthys cyanoguttatus, another close relative is H. carpintus (not from Texas, so an oxymoron name).
Below a female carpintus, in spawning color.

Now a male in normal color

Note the steeper head profile of the male.
Even when only 2", you can spot the male profile development compared to the more rounded female profiless in the shot below.

Below another shot of a mature male, this time in spawning color..

 

[bcpits]

Thanks for the response and pictures. They we bought as electric blue texas. Here is a pic of one. Which from the info you have provided would indicate it is a male. I'll have to find a or take a pic of the one im unsure of.

 

[bcpits]

This is the vent of above fish

 

[duanes]

I believe male "may" be the case in yours, indicated by the slope of the profile.
The pattern and size of spots appears to suggest carpintus (maybe the EB is what they are calling carpintus these days)
I edited your pic a little to get a better look..

 

[bcpits]

thank you. I'm wondering if I got all males then. I removed the original fish to my 300 already. These are the remaining 3
Pictures one - dominant fish in tank. Clearing a nest in one corner.
picture two- I also think male.
picture 3 is the smallest. Its the only one I think is maybe a female . But then I don't see any black markings on the dorsal of any of them. Please ignore the glass. lol

 

[Red Cichlids]

To me the second looks the most like a female, but I'd only give it 50/50 odds of being a girl. To profile sex them, I draw an imaginary line from their mouth the the middle of their tail. If they carry more weight above that line, they are most likely a male and if they carry most below, likely a female. Feeding can influence this obviously, so give them some time to settle in and gain some weight.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Maybe it's the lighting in the pictures, but I am thinking I see a little black in the first fish's dorsal, behind the irridescent spots. Second picture looks more like a definite male to me, third looks male as well. I have found the black blotch technique to be pretty reliable with Hericthys species. Profile is a good way as well but dominant females can develop a male profile so it's not sure-fire.
Your fish do apprear to be H. Carpintis- Electric blue is a common name for this species.

Here's a pic of my proven female (she laid eggs) hericthys tamasopoensis, a similar species. Notice the black coloration in dorsal, behind the electric coloration.

 

[RD.]

"Electric Blue Texas" are typically H. carpintis, with some sex appeal added by using the term "electric".

To the OP, this past thread may help you, some of Duane's pics, as well as some of my own, and others, of various sexes. https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/carpintis-cichlid-male-or-female.720514/

IMO, yours shown here mostly appear to be males. Also, a black spot present, or not, is not a definitive manner in which to sex females. Good luck.