Pseudotropheus Cherry Red

[LoveTheFishies]

Can anyone tell me if you can determine sex of the Cherry Red's based on number of egg spots?  I have a trio about 2.5-3" long and there has been some Jaw wrestling, so I'm unsure if its 2 males trying to set up pecking order.  All three seem to have quite a few egg spots. 

[Regalblue]

Wrong section,  you want Old World. But, No the number of egg spots is not a reliable way to sex them.

[Michael Zebrowski]

The males will develop a light blue dorsal fin and begin to hold a territory.  Egg spots are unreliable as a differentiator.

[Ron]

Wrong section,  you want Old World.

Fixed.

I've always felt there was a tendency for males to have a significant amount of egg spots, where as females have few, if any.

[LoveTheFishies]

Wrong section,  you want Old World.

Fixed.

I've always felt there was a tendency for males to have a significant amount of egg spots, where as females have few, if any.

Thanks for moving this, must have clicked wrong. 

All 3 have quite a few egg spots.  I have noticed differences with other species.  Not experienced in venting.  May have to give it a try.  I haven't noticed any coloration difference yet, but they still have a ways to go before they are full grown.

[four_by_ken]

Wrong section,  you want Old World.

Fixed.

I've always felt there was a tendency for males to have a significant amount of egg spots, where as females have few, if any.

I agree... this tends to be true.  But, I have seen fish that were the opposite. 

[Michael Zebrowski]

Wrong section,  you want Old World.

Fixed.

I've always felt there was a tendency for males to have a significant amount of egg spots, where as females have few, if any.

Out of my group of 10 there are 2 males.  Oddly enough both males have fewer egg spots than the females.  Now that they're young breeding adults, the differences are more clear.  Both males have light blue dorsal and anal fins.  All 8 females have red dorsal and anal fins.  The males have split the tank into 2 equal territories and the females stay in a group in the center when not spawning.
Some of the fry are gray; I suspect that these fry are males that will eventually turn blue like the original wild-caught red zebras from the '70s.  The males and females were sold as different types at the LFS; the males were sold as "Ice Blue Zebras" and the females as "Red Zebras".  Many of us spent hours looking at the Red Zebras, trying to pick out pairs based on egg spots and fin shapes, while the tank of adult males was below and unidentified as such.  The Reds were $80.00 each, the Ice Blues were $40.00. 


I agree... this tends to be true.  But, I have seen fish that were the opposite.

[nate]

Males are lighter almost blue.... Here is my male

[nate]

Females are cherry red... I could be wrong but ive never seen a red male..

[LoveTheFishies]

These are only about 2 inches.  So maybe I have to wait for them to get a little bigger.

[nate]

These guys are 2.5-3 in long... Ive had 1 successful clutch

[LoveTheFishies]

I took a close look at my fish today and noticed 1 with bluish fins.  The others are still red, so that is probably a female.  Here are a couple pix.  What do you think?

[Jaws22]

I took a close look at my fish today and noticed 1 with bluish fins.  The others are still red, so that is probably a female.  Here are a couple pix.  What do you think?

What kind of Lab is that?

[nate]

Top one looks male to me... He will get lighter and his fins will get more blue... Very nice!!!

[LoveTheFishies]

I took a close look at my fish today and noticed 1 with bluish fins.  The others are still red, so that is probably a female.  Here are a couple pix.  What do you think?

What kind of Lab is that?

pseudotropheus sp zebra, cherry red