Festae Advice

[Enigmatic96]

This is has been my experience with Festae, even if he does not match her aggression, he will certainly outgrow her. In general, I find that male festae have an almost supernatural ability to eliminate female festae, even in cases where the male the has been previously sub-dominant.

I am hoping that he does grow at a even slightly faster pace so that I can try and breed the one day. At the moment she shows no interest in him even though he shoes a lot in her

 

[Fish on Fire]

My pair was like that too. The male was just slightly smaller than the female when I got them, both around 2.9"-3" TL.

Now the male is 4" and the female is slightly smaller than him at about 3.8". That's after 2 months. The male will eventually outgrow her.

 

[Enigmatic96]

My pair was like that too. The male was just slightly smaller than the female when I got them, both around 2.9"-3" TL.

Now the male is 4" and the female is slightly smaller than him at about 3.8". That's after 2 months. The male will eventually outgrow her.

I was expecting for him too, even though I know it will take time he isn’t much shorter then her, she is just much more thick and bulky

 

[Enigmatic96]

A dominant female (of just about any cichlid) may show a more male like color pattern, even to enclude a nuchal hump type profile.
Here is another species of cichlid example, below a female haitiensus in the dominant mode (no male in the tank).

Below, Her normal color, and profile (with a dominant male in her tank)

But there is one caveat, a subordinate male cichlid, in the presence of an very alpha male, may also sport female color, and less steep profile. So its possible for one to "not" always be 100% sure.
Another example when the cichlids are actually spawning, take the carpintus below.
The males in normal color

but when spawning, he adapts female coloration, to include dark pigment in the dorsal

Do you think when he gains size and is bigger then her and becomes the dominant fish that her colour will change to the general female colour of more vibrant red with dark barring?

 

[Enigmatic96]

Do you think when he gains size and is bigger then her and becomes the dominant fish that her colour will change to the general female colour of more vibrant red with dark barring?

Or if anyone has an opinion it would be appreciated

 

[vinod_uthaiah]

Or if anyone has an opinion it would be appreciated

I think yes , give sometime and you will eventually see the male growing chunkier and bigger than the female . The female as well gains the bright red colour that you see in most pics. My previous Red terror colony that I had , was with 2 Males n 4 females , but took a good 14 months before a pair formed and it spawned.
Different story that I lost all of them except for 1 female , when I was on travel due to some disease.

 

[duanes]

When my festae both hit the compatable pair mood, both their colors changed dramatically.

 

[Enigmatic96]

When my festae both hit the compatable pair mood, both their colors changed dramatically.

Awesome photo, love seeing beautiful festae like this. I hope when my male eventually outgrows her that she will be more interested in him and he will become more dominant.
I have been doing quite a bit of research, and I have seen people saying a slanted down mouth is a deformity in festae, would you say either of the festae I posted photos of have this?

 

[duanes]

I really don't see what you describe, even when I altered the shots. Close ups of the face would help.

A close up like this, is what I mean

 

[Enigmatic96]

I really don't see what you describe, even when I altered the shots. Close ups of the face would help.
View attachment 1321737 View attachment 1321738 View attachment 1321739
A close up like this, is what I mean

I will try and get some close up photos tomorrow while the lights are on. I was reading that some people said a slanted mouth facial structure could be a deformity. Not really sure how to describe it. As I said I will attempt to get better photos tomorrow