Synspilum?

[joel]

Got this freebie today. Vieja synspilum? Around the 8” mark.

 

[kno4te]

Yea....looks like synspilum.

 

[Tobiassorensen]

Jupp its an vieja melanura wich is its scientific name nowadays

 

[joel]

Thanks for the positive id. Any visual way to tell if it’s male or female? Or is venting the only way?

 

[Tobiassorensen]

By the looks of it id say thats a female based on the forehead. Males tend to get more steeper foreheads and longer analfins but im not an expert on that.

@RD. @duanes are two IMO experts on cichlids of all sorts.

 

[duanes]

By the looks of it id say thats a female based on the forehead. Males tend to get more steeper foreheads and longer analfins but im not an expert on that.

@RD. @duanes are two IMO experts on cichlids of all sorts.

I agree with this, but if it was raised with more dominant individuals this could muddy the outward gender traits. Give it a few weeks in your tank and see if any outward characteristics change, gender characteristics in cichlids are often very plastic depending on tank mates.
I had a Paratilapia polleni that I thought was a female for about two years. When the dominant male in the tank died, she (what I thought was a she) sported male characteristics almost overnight.
Her fins grew points, her profile changed, and so did her (his) colors.

 

[joel]

Thanks for everyone’s info. It is much appreciated.