Taiwan Reef, He or She?

[A201]

Hey guys, I bought this, hopefully male, Taiwan Reef about six months ago from my favorite LFS. It was a one inch juvenile, and was the most aggressive TR in the vendor's tank. The TR has grown to nearly three inches, and until recent weeks, no color change.
Believing I had selected a female, I actually bought another juvenile TR, and have it in a grow out tank. As luck would have it, the original TR suddenly has a red anal fin and is showing color in his dorsal. Still not sure of gender. Maybe just a nice looking female or a late blooming male? Opinions.

 

[Longmayitreign]

Hey guys, I bought this, hopefully male, Taiwan Reef about six months ago from my favorite LFS. It was a one inch juvenile, and was the most aggressive TR in the vendor's tank. The TR has grown to nearly three inches, and until recent weeks, no color change.
Believing I had selected a female, I actually bought another juvenile TR, and have it in a grow out tank. As luck would have it, the original TR suddenly has a red anal fin and is showing color in his dorsal. Still not sure of gender. Maybe just a nice looking female or a late blooming male? Opinions.View attachment 1391336View attachment 1391337

Sometimes female peacocks and haps have orange, red, or yellow anal fins, It's probably a female. But if it is male and it isn't showing color yet try putting it in a tank where it would be boss or close to boss, it will color up faster.

 

[A201]

That's a very good suggestion. Its pretty low in the heirarchy in the current community.

 

[neutrino]

Looks female imo. Females in some Malawi species do show hints of color, Taiwan reef is one of them ime. By now you typically see more pointed fins in a male-- if the photo angle is showing its fins clearly-- and in ime with Taiwan reefs you'd normally see blue in the face, some blaze in the dorsal, and anal fin spots, by now.

Now and then a male stays cryptic for a while, but I don't think so.

 

[RD.]

I kept & bred these for a number of years approx. 15 yrs ago, so it's been a while, but I completely agree with neutrino. By now you should be seeing some male traits, even a hint, and I don't see them. I would expect at that size to not only see spots in the anal fin, but also slightly longer pointier anal & dorsal fins. This is a group shot from back when I was breeding these fish, the one up front is a very young male. It's a horrible shot, taken with an antique camera, but if you look closely you can see the depth of red piping along the dorsal fin is a lot greater than in your fish, and the anal fin already has a spot showing. That male was at best 3" TL. If even. Never say never, but if I was forced to bet I would bet that yours is female.

 

[RD.]

This is the same male, 2 months later...….

 

[RD.]

And about 6 months later with a better camera. lol

 

[A201]

They are truly beautiful fish. I think I will keep her. She is one of my favorites. Hopefully the new juvenile will turn out male. Much too soon to determine.

 

[A201]

Just an update guys. I went back to the LFS and stared at the 30 baby Tiawan Reefs, swimming in the display tank, for quite awhile until I spotted this little guy. He has a blue patch on his head, a yellow hue to the body and the fins look to be coloring up. The store clerk skillfully netted him out. That's the best I can do. If he's not male, I'm giving up. Lol.

 

[neutrino]

Looks like a male to me.