Male or Female OB Peacock?

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G2-B

Aquarium Advice Regular
Joined
Aug 12, 2025
Messages
69
Location
Deming, NM
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These 2 Africans came with the 18 convict cichlids that are now breeding and I moved them and the sailfish pleco to a separate tank so they would not be harassed. 60 gallons is rather big. Once I have another tank cleaned and set up, I'll move them to a smaller home.

The yellow one is a Kenyi Mbuna male, Not sure about the OB peacock.
 
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These 2 Africans came with the 18 convict cichlids that are now breeding and I moved them and the sailfish pleco to a separate tank so they would not be harassed. 60 gallons is rather big. Once I have another tank cleaned and set up, I'll move them to a smaller home.

The yellow one is a Kenyi Mbuna male, Not sure about the OB peacock.
A visual clue would be the more rounded dorsal and anal fins and lack of egg spots on the anal fin that your fish is a female but that's not a guarantee. A more secure way of knowing is to look at the vent of the fish. A female will have 2 different sized holes. 1 hole would be larger than the other. The larger hole being where the ovipositor is while the smaller hole would be the anus. If this is a mature male, both holes will be the same size. Keep in mind that you can't really tell the difference on immature fish so you don't want to do this "venting" until after the fish are at least a year old. Judging by the picture, the fish looks like it should be over a year old. (y)
 
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He's dug a nesting hole and is shaking his booty at her, leading her around the tank. I don't suppose he would do that if the other one was also male.

Meanwhile, pleco is trying to hide behind the filter, trying not to get noticed. :)
 
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He's dug a nesting hole and is shaking his booty at her, leading her around the tank. I don't suppose he would do that if the other one was also male.

Meanwhile, pleco is trying to hide behind the filter, trying not to get noticed. :)
That could be a really weird hybrid. LOL You could get some really nice looking offspring or really ugly ones. 🥴 Since both Kennyi and Peacocks are maternal mouth brooders, you'll know they " did the deed" when she is being closed mouth and you will see her throat a bit extended as you see in this picture: 1768177055418.png (y)
 
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IMO, The OB Peacock is a male.
Although female OB"s are colorful, their coloration is noticeably less vivid.

Male OB's have a boxy build, like yours has. Females are more streamlined.

Here's a pick of the best male OB Peacock I ever kept. Notice the similarities. I miss that one. He was a brute. Lol.

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