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.