CaraB Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 (edited) Hello! I’m new here and loving all the great information! I was sold a pair of juvenile electric blue rams. Now that they’re a little older, I’m wondering if they are actually two females or still too young to identify. Looking for some help, please. (Excuse the fish poop!) Also, as of the past couple of days, they have been interlocking mouths for a few seconds and acting slightly more aggressively towards each other from time to time. Then other times they just swim together. Thank you!! Edited January 17, 2021 by CaraB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenFins Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Based on the rounded shaped dorsal fin the top one looks like a female and the bottom looks to be male. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 1 minute ago, James Black said: Based on the rounded shaped dorsal fin the top one looks like a female and the bottom looks to be male. HA! Due to the shape of the forehead I would have said the opposite! Have to wait and see I guess. I am in the same boat with some electric blue acaras, they are nearly ready to spawn and I wont know unless I catch them in the act I think! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaraB Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 Thanks James! I’m thinking this original photo might make the fish’s fin look pointier than it is because it was moving. Maybe this photo is a little better? It’s a little hard with the background, but it does appear a little more rounded in real life. Do you know at what age they start differentiating? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaraB Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 4 minutes ago, Brandy said: HA! Due to the shape of the forehead I would have said the opposite! Have to wait and see I guess. I am in the same boat with some electric blue acaras, they are nearly ready to spawn and I wont know unless I catch them in the act I think! Brandy! Tell me more about this forehead shape thing, haha! I was thinking the same as you originally or two females maybe? I don’t know at what age they start really differentiating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenFins Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 (edited) 5 minutes ago, CaraB said: Thanks James! I’m thinking this original photo might make the fish’s fin look pointier than it is because it was moving. Maybe this photo is a little better? It’s a little hard with the background, but it does appear a little more rounded in real life. Do you know at what age they start differentiating? I don't know the exact age, but a quick google search reveals 4-6 Months. I had a electric blue ram that showed it was a female at about 4ish months. Mine looked to be the same age as yours are. Edited January 17, 2021 by James Black Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaraB Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 1 minute ago, James Black said: I don't know the exact age, but a quick google search reveals 4-6 Months. I had a electric blue ram that showed it was a female at about 4ish months. Mine looked to be the same age as yours are. Great, thanks! Perhaps I need to just be more patient... sigh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 4 minutes ago, CaraB said: Brandy! Tell me more about this forehead shape thing, haha! I was thinking the same as you originally or two females maybe? I don’t know at what age they start really differentiating. Lol, it is just a guess. Males often seem to have a more curved "roman nose" look in cichlids. It's subtle, and unreliable for me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenFins Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 13 minutes ago, CaraB said: Thanks James! I’m thinking this original photo might make the fish’s fin look pointier than it is because it was moving. Maybe this photo is a little better? It’s a little hard with the background, but it does appear a little more rounded in real life. Do you know at what age they start differentiating? This new picture resembles a female to me. The dorsal fin isn't so pointy as it looked like it was in the previous photo. I take @Brandy side they look like two females. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 2 hours ago, Brandy said: I am in the same boat with some electric blue acaras, they are nearly ready to spawn and I wont know unless I catch them in the act I think! Do your female EBAs change color when in spawning mode? Ours sure did... top of head turns pale, “cheeks” deepen teal blue, body turns platinum white-blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 (edited) CaraB, can you post a short video - 1-2 mins of them in the tank? This color form of Ram is really hard to determine male / female on Edited January 17, 2021 by Fish Folk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 @Fish Folk BOTH fish that seem interested in spawning do that. From moment to moment. It looked almost like they were flushed, then would get distracted by something and change back. The third wheel, who is not welcome anymore, doesn't color shift. They are fascinating to watch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrostiesFishes Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Looks like a pair to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaraB Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 9 hours ago, Fish Folk said: CaraB, can you post a short video - 1-2 mins of them in the tank? This color form of Ram is really hard to determine male / female on Yes, they aren’t very blue yet or maybe they won’t be very blue. They are only one inch long, not including fins, so maybe they are still too young? It isn’t letting me upload any videos for some reason? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 2 hours ago, CaraB said: It isn’t letting me upload any videos for some reason? If you make a video, upload it to YouTube, or VIMEO and then embed the link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 3 hours ago, CaraB said: It isn’t letting me upload any videos for some reason? @Lizzie Block had a good post on how to insert a video: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaraB Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 1 hour ago, Fish Folk said: If you make a video, upload it to YouTube, or VIMEO and then embed the link. Hopefully this works? If not, I can try YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 That works! But I’ve got idea about sexing them... sorry! Too hard to tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Female have reddish purple abdomen when in good condition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 CaraB, here are a few photos of a male blue we’ve raised. He’s not the healthiest specimen, genetically, but what these photos show is the extended rays at the front of the dorsal fin. A few females dorsal fin-front-rays will extend, but not as much as the males. This can be part of a clue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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