Opinions On Sex Of These Apisto`s

[elisew]

I was wondering if anyone could please help me out with sexing the Apisto`s in the following pics?

While I was at the LFS getting the sand, plants and new cave type ornaments to re-do my big tank, I saw some Cockatoo Apisto`s. I was planning on waiting a little while but........I bought 3 They seem to be getting on really well with the Bolivian Rams that I`ve now got in the big tank
I`m led to believe that I now have 1 male and 2 females. Would someone be able to confirm from my pics whether the LFS got it right.......or is it a case of yet another LFS getting it wrong??
I have a niggling suspicion that I have 1 mature male, 1 juvenile male and 1 female but I`ll be happy to be corrected.

 

[rdp50734]

picture 1 if both cockatoo's I'd say females but not sure need side on pictures really
picture 2 male
picture 3 suspect male but cant see the tail
picture 4 female

 

[Fats]

Picture 1 are Bolivian Rams. Picture 2 Male. Picture 3 id say Male but could do with a better pic. Picture 4 Female. This species are well known for sleeper males they look like female then before you know it they colour up and turn out to be males,its happened to me a couple of times. Usually females will have a black stripe on there ventral fins where as males are more of a pale blue.

Ian

 

[karin]

Is it the photo or is the ram on the right in photo one and then later in photo 4 really strangely shaped? The forehead looks like it drops straight down.

BTW I agree with male, male and female on the apistos

 

[elisew]

Thanks for the replies. I`m still not 100% on the sex of the second Apisto but I`ve managed to get a few more close pics which will hopefully help.






Karin, yes the forehead of the Ram does seem to slope down quite dramatically compared to the other one. I must say I`ve never really noticed it too much before. I`ve got a closer pic of them and they are both very different in shape:

 

[karin]

I would be interested to know other's thoughts on this ram. Wow, how distinctive. Is it a common variation? A birth defect? Any thoughts out there? And I agree now, don't know the sex of that "second" apisto based on the new photos.

 

[TheHolding]

Second Apisto in my opinion is definately female - black pelvic fins and yellow shading to all fin areas looks like she is starting her brooding colours.

 

[elisew]

Thanks TheHolding, I hope you`re right, I don`t actually like the thought of having 2 males to 1 female.

IF by any chance there were 2 males in a tank with only 1 female, would it always be best to then get more females? Also, is it always better to stay with the same kind or does it matter if they were mixed Apisto`s?


Karin, It`s a good point you raised, not something I`d picked up on or worried about. Both always seem to be happy and chilled, so I`m not worried but would be interested in other opinions too.

 

[TheHolding]

They say Apistos are harem species that require more females, from experience I find that Apistos tend to pair up!

I had 3 cockatoo cichlids - 1 male and 2 females a pair quickly formed and the other female got bullied by the pair unfortunately the dominant female died and my male still shows no interest in the other female.

I'm pretty sure you have a male and female so don't panic has the suspected female turned more yellow in colour yet?

 

[elisew]

Thanks, hope that is the case.

The colours don't seem to have changed at all. They all seem quite happy to be around each other, they're lovely little fish

I'm actually wondering about the sex of the rams, they were together for ages before I put them in the big tank but there's never been any kind of behaviour that leads me to believe it's a male and a female. If anything, one will nudge the other a fair bit and chase it around and they also lip lock a bit. does this infer that they're likely to both be male?