Kenyi color

[ricco34]

I got a blue kenyi as a juvenile a few months ago. It was completely light blue with faint stripes. It was about an inch long and now it is closer to 4 inches long and has slight yellow on its tail
And dorsal fin and it's stripes are either completely black or faint. I know that males and female are all blue as juveniles but the males turn yellow when sexually matured so I vented my kenyi and it appears to be a girl. I have read about there being some female kenyis turning yellow and that if the dominant cichlid is a female it is not uncommon for it to take on male colors. Mine is the dominant fish of the tank. I'll take some pictures when I am home tomorrow Any suggestions?

 

[ricco34]

pics are kinda blurry but here she is

 

[snowman17]

Another member on here had the same thing happening with his female auratus showing male colors. You have any male kenyi? If not that could be the reason

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[ricco34]

This is the only kenyi in the tank

 

[squirrilah fish]

Female Kenyi's will take on male traits (egg spots, turning yellow) when they are brooding, or preparing to lay eggs.

One member on here's Kenyi went full yellow while holding.

 

[garrettkei]

While holding my kenyi had a bit of yellow. I think this was to keep her man off. He kept chasing and flashing her days after breeding. I have other females that he pursued after she went yellow.




Come to think of it before she was ready to lay she had a bit of yellow too.

 

[ricco34]

That's awesome

 

[snowman17]

Smart thing to do lol

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[squirrilah fish]

Smart thing to do lol

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Cichlids are arguably the smartest freshwater fish. Next to the amazon pink dolphin.

 

[Mrscbennett]

This is my female kenyi and her fry. She has been yellow since about 2". We had another kenyi for a short time recently, that's when we found out she was a female.

 

[squirrilah fish]

This is my female kenyi and her fry. She has been yellow since about 2". We had another kenyi for a short time recently, that's when we found out she was a female.


View attachment 239139View attachment 239140

This is who I was talking about. This makes me miss breeding Kenyi's now. The adults aren't that great, but a tank full of Kenyi fry is so awesome. Here's mine from a few years ago. I had all sorts of Juvinilles in this grow out tank at one point.

http://youtu.be/slId9CSk4_Q

 

[Ulrichsd]

Squirrilah, what is the food that you push against the glass? I've seen it in a few videos. Sorry for the off-topic question.

 

[squirrilah fish]

Tubifex worms.

 

[Ulrichsd]

Oh, those are ok for herbivores? The fish go crazy for them.

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[squirrilah fish]

Probably not the best choice, it's definitely a treat. But for growing fish, it's a good protein source.