cacatuoides

[longhorn13]

i went to the lfs on thursday and picked what i thought was a male and two females, but when i got home and looked a little more, i think it was three males. i went back to the lfs and asked if i could bring back the two i thought were females and trade them out for two more that i am now sure are females. they wouldn't do a two for two swap, because they don't take back fish once you get them home, but i talked them into doing a swap for one if i bought another. so now i have two males and two females. not quite the ratio i wanted, but it's better than before. hopefully i can get a camera soon and get some pics!

 

[Griz]

Congratulations longhorn!

As you know I recently got my first cacs and I am just loving these fish. I'm sure you will too. Best of luck!

 

[longhorn13]

thanks griz. after only two days they already recognize feeding time and then later on come out to greet me and tell me it's feeding time again...pretty fun so far

 

[pnyklr3]

What made you think that the females were males? I only ask because shortly after I got my harem, I thought that I had 4 males instead of 1:3. Females can have color on their tails. Mine all have speckles of orange and black, and one female's tail is nearly covered and had some orange along the top of her dorsal fin. The best way to tell males from females (young ones that are not yet full grown) is to look at the pectoral fins. Females have a black strip on the front of each fin. Males do not have this. If anyone can disprove this, please let me know! I don't want to pass on bad info. I have heard this from 2 breeders, and have seen no pics of males with the black on the pectoral fins. Congrats on the cacs!

Oh, and as weird as it may sound: the more caves and hiding places you have in the tank, the more you'll see your dwarfs!

 

[longhorn13]

the couple i thought were female at first i looked at closer when i got home and they didn't have the black strip on the pectoral fins and didn't have any yellowish color to them.

 

[Griz]

How big are your fish longhorn?

I was fooled by one of my females for a while. They were about 1 1/4 inches when these pics were taken. The first two pics are of the one that I was unsure of. The third is of her sister.

 

[pnyklr3]

Yellow is only an indicator when they are breeding. After the fry have been raised (or the eggs are gone:eaten) they will only remain yellow a few days before reverting back to the grey/black color. My male has yellow across the top of his body too.

 

[longhorn13]

one definately looks like the third pic, then i have two that look like the first two pics, one has the black strip on the pectoral fins and one doesn't. i was assuming the one that doesn't is a male.

 

[Griz]

The fish in the top 2 photos was not showing any black on the pectoral fins at all. That was what made me wonder about it. Even now, There is very little black on her pectorals and it is only there in certain light. These fish seem quite variable in their coloration from one fish to another and depending on their mood or time of day. I've seen the dark lateral stripe be very dark one moment, dissappear completely and then reappear a few moments later. One more thing to luv about 'em!

 

[pnyklr3]

I agree. My females' black stripe will sometimes appear to fade if they are frightened or excited, and are VERY dark when spawning. They kept me doubting myself for weeks wondering if I sexed them wrong!

 

[longhorn13]

well, of the ones i have now, one is definately a male (triple red), two should be females (have the black strip) and the last i guess i don't know yet, looks like the other females, but no black strip whatsoever. i guess time will tell