There are some early ways to tell if your fish is female or male. But the very best way is to wait until they are at least 1 year old (give or take) and about 4 inches long. At this age, and size, you can usually vent your fish with accuracy.
On the underbelly, the females have two holes, and one is larger than the other. The males have a smaller size hole than females and have a triangular point in the second hole.
Another way to tell if you have a male or female fish is by their coloring. Females are usually a drab silver-grey or brown. Males are usually a bit bigger than females and once they are about 4 inches they are sexually mature and have the best coloration. Their color is usually much brighter than females, especially during breeding season. Keep in mind that coloring shouldn't be treated as a guarantee of sex.
Sizing
Fish about 1-2.5 inches are only a few weeks old and primarily colorless.
When fish are about 3.5-4 inches they are starting to mature and exhibit dominance. Some of their coloring will be vibrant as they mature.
As the fish grow, their sexual maturity and dominance will be established and their best coloring will show.
Dominance is an important part of a male cichlid's coloring. Their color may change to a lighter tone when introduced to new tanks and environments, so it may take a while for their color to show again and they are comfortable in their new atmosphere.
Please Note: We put the best and most true-to-color photos we can of our products, that said, we cannot control the output of your computer screen. Please understand that your fish may not be the exact color you see on the screen. This is due to a variety of factors – including the contrast, resolution, and color balances of your screen. The aquatic atmosphere and other stressors that can occur when having a new fish in your aquarium can impact their coloring as well. Give them time to adapt and their full color potential will appear.
