Demanosi Cichlid

[Hannibal the Bichir]

Hi,
How do you tell the sex of one of these cichlids. Mine has long fins near the bottom (pectoral fins?), and is about 5 inches long. Also, it is very colorful.

 

[kay-bee19]

Can you post a photo of this fish? Pseudotropheus demasoni are sometimes considered dwarfs because they don't get very large (a large male would be about 4", females max out at maybe 3"). All of my 4" demasoni's have always been alpha males.

Maybe you have one of the so-called 'Giant Demasoni's' (Metriaclima sp. 'Dolphin'), (these guys max out at about 7").

While (matured) male p. demasoni's do have proportionately larger pelvic fins than females, venting your fish is the surest way to determine gender, especially with a monomorphic species.

 

[Hannibal the Bichir]

I definitely have a demosoni at about four inches.

 

[kay-bee19]

Is it possible to post a photo of the 5" one?

 

[Hannibal the Bichir]

Sorry it took so long. Here it is.

 

[Ckennedy37]

Male demasoni will have jet black bars with bright blue bars while females will have the same markings but they look alot pailer. Almost like they are bleached out

 

[kay-bee19]

Male demasoni will have jet black bars with bright blue bars while females will have the same markings but they look alot pailer. Almost like they are bleached out

I don't agree with that. Coloration-wise female's are identical to males, though sub-dominant demasoni's of either gender will take on a paler pattern (which is temporary).

Here are some female demasoni's that (at least to me) aren't pale or bleached out:

Female (She's produced fry before so her gender is certain):

Female (mouthbrooding):