Male or female? Red Top Lwanda

[squirrilah fish]

I got this fish a few days ago. I picked him out of a group of fry, sure it was a male because it was showing more features/colors than all the others, and was larger than the others. It may just be that I am paranoid, or that I deep down know its a female and dont want it to be, or it could be I am unfamiliar with this fish, and its anal and back fins need to grow out more. Please help me put my mind at ease... is this a male or a female? thank you in advance!

 

[Brandon D.]

Male looks like

 

[Brandon D.]

And is it a red to lwanda?

 

[squirrilah fish]

It was advertised as a red top lwanda, and theyre pretty on top of it. Although I have heard they can be confused with Lemon Jakes.

 

[Brandon D.]

Srry didn't see that and ya they can be as juvies

 

[Cichlid-dude]

How big is this fish? Its hard to tell sex of peacocks when they are small.

 

[squirrilah fish]

its right around 2" maybe a hair bigger.

 

[squirrilah fish]

im usually pretty good at telling, and I remember I picked this one because I thought it was the most likely male of the group of 7 or so. I guess I just expected the anal fin to be a little more telling than it is. I have only had experience with a few Aulonocara juvies.

 

[aquariumUser39]

im usually pretty good at telling, and I remember I picked this one because I thought it was the most likely male of the group of 7 or so. I guess I just expected the anal fin to be a little more telling than it is. I have only had experience with a few Aulonocara juvies.

I have heard males have a spotted anal fin which seems to be present in yours

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[squirrilah fish]

I'm starting to think it is a male, I just read a post that they often take longer to color up. I have some Malawi peacocks that are smaller who show a lot of color. But I also think in a tank of nothing but males if I dropped a female in, they would be all over it. I know the red top is not a Malawi peacock, it's from Tanzania or Mozambique, maybe that is the difference. Stay tuned I guess. Maybe I'll catch it all colored up at night. I have only had it for four days now. Think I just need to be patient