Jewel cichlid.... Will these mate with each other?

[jvbfamily]

I have 4 jewel cichlids and am trying to setup a breeder tank as I love these fish.
My problem is, where I live, they don't seem to have tank fills of jewels and seem very rare to ket 2 of the same colours.

Jewel 1



Bought this colour and always this colour. ( assuming male )


Jewel 2


Bought same time as jewel 1 (guessing this is a female as jewel one gets along with her very well and has been seen fanning in front of her constantly)


Jewel 3



Love the purplish tint ( trying to figure out sex)


Jewel 4


Again no idea what sex.




Jewel 1-2 and tankmates and 3-4 are in a separate tank as they are smaller and I don't want to wake up with dead fish not knowing the sexes. 3-4 get along great so assuming both are not males.

I want to ask the experts here how to sex them and most importantly will jewels of 4 different colours mate with each other ?


New to the hobby
55gal mixed cichlid
55gal oscar
10gal waiting for possible fry

 

[Freakgecko91]

Sorry, I don't know much about jewels, not generally my cup of tea, but I did notice that you posted a picture of a buttikoferi. You're gonna end up with some dead jewels if that's the case.

Also, I do know there are several species within the genus hemicachromis. I believe turquoise jewels (like 2 and 4) are bimaculatus, and I think 1 may be lafilili


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[jvbfamily]

Yeah the butti I know will need to be rehoused when he gets bigger. Unfortunately living in HK space is lacking and no returning fish nor second hand market to give it off to. I didn't know when I first bought him that it would grow insanely huge. ATM gets along well in my community tank with jewel 1 and 2, and other mbuna's. Originally had an oscar in there to but he got big fast and became a bully so have him in his own tank.



New to the hobby
55gal mixed cichlid
55gal oscar
10gal waiting for possible fry

 

[Freakgecko91]

Size isn't the only issue really, buttikoferi are homicidal once they reach sexual maturity. One of the most aggressive species outside of central america


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