Sexing Jds

[This Younger Spouse]

Hey all:

I'm new to Jack Dempseys, as some of you may know.

In reading up on them, I find that females have a lot more blue on the cheeks than males, and the pics I've seen online of each sex make it look like I've got two males. But they are only about 2.5 inches long, and I'm wondering if that's old/large enough to have reached their "final" coloration. One is a tremendously sexy looking deep black with lovely blue spots. The other is quite pale in comparison. Both appear active and healthy.

Can anyone offer up some helpful info? Thanks!

 

[likescichlids]

we need to see pic to tell if there male or female...

 

[This Younger Spouse]

I figured that.

I'm a photographer by trade, and I have a camera body and a lens all set up next to the tank for when the JDs come out to play. They spend most of their time in their caves, and usually don't do much out in the open until the restaurant is open. I'll supply images when I can. And no flash will be used, since flash can alter important aspects of color/brightness.

Meanwhile, any other thoughts? The darkness differential between the two individuals is striking, and I wonder if that's typical of the species.

 

[This Younger Spouse]

Here's a photo of the pale one.

 

[This Younger Spouse]

And here's the dark one.

 

[GShorty1981]

I'm guessing they are both females, but hard to tell from pics

 

[ChilliPepper]

I never use the flash when I photograph my fish either, but always have my tank lights on and the room dark. Perhaps try that and it may give you a clearer photo?

I'm not good at sexing Jacks, but this is my female:

I think females have more flecks on their gill plates than males.

 

[This Younger Spouse]

Does anyone know if they are mature enough to have their "adult" coloration?

As for the pics, I just left the tank light on, most of the room dark, and pointed a small lamp right at the cave where the JDs like it. Wasn't really interested in excellent photos at this point, just some that are good enough to see the front half of the fish decently.

HGS, is it the amount of blue on the gills/cheeks that puts them in the female category for you? Chillipepper's has a lot more blue. There sure are some interesting color variations in this species.

 

[This Younger Spouse]

Here's a pic with a full view of both fish together.

Both females, then?

 

[GShorty1981]

Yep definitley both females, males have even spangling all over the body (small male JD's look like texas cichlids) and pointed anal fins, females are rounded off and have most spangling on the face, the dark one is dominant.

Male:

Female:

 

[This Younger Spouse]

Thanks, HGS!

Yep, the dark one is the dominant individual of all the fish in the tank, and is a gorgeous gal. If I opt for the mated pair option, she's the one I'll keep.

 

[GShorty1981]

Only thing i will say is once they are split up she may fade to a grey colour, they tend to blacken up when they have either a potential mate or when they have a rival.

That being said I have a 2.5" female JD with a male Green Terror, female Convict in my 75g and sheis black all the time, also the last 2 i had were both female and they were grey all the time when together and one went black when the other died...

So it could be they go dark when happy and grey/washed out when they are stressed.

Another funny thing is i have only ever had female JD's (5 times in total in 12 + years)...mainly because they look so attractive when they are small (black with blue/green spangling and red trim on the top fin) and the males look boring like a grey texas juvis.....i keep meaning to go for a male but get distracted by the pretty females lol!

I did have a male electric blue JD but it wasnt my cup of tea....it was a little to pansy, slow growing and when it got big i didnt like the colour compared to the nice marbled juvi colour.

Sold it to my mate who i thought would look after it well and he lapsed on water changes and killed him