I've asked before, but there's still doubt in my mind - male or female Ram?

[rsanz]

I've asked before, and I think the consensus was female...but there are factors that still lead me to believe it is male such as the longer front of the dorsal fin and some blue flecks missing on the black spot on its side, and I haven't really noticed any pinkness on its belly.

Here's a myriad of images to try to get a definitive answer, once and for all!

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/rsanz/IMG_1017.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/rsanz/IMG_1018.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/rsanz/IMG_1019.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/rsanz/IMG_1022.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/rsanz/IMG_1023.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/rsanz/IMG_1024.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/rsanz/IMG_1025.jpg

Now, in this photo there are blue flecks in the black spot...but on the other side of its body, there is a large gap in the blue flecks on the black spot...I wasn't able to get a photo, though...However, notice the longer second spike of the dorsal fin.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a259/rsanz/IMG_1030.jpg


Alright...that's all I've got. I promise not to ask again...I'm sure it's getting annoying...but I keep going back and forth on this poor creature's sex, and its name has changed like 4 times because of my indecision. Thanks for your help!!

[BlueJax]

Why not concentrate on growing the fish up a bit on a good quality varied diet? It won't be long before its sex will be as plain as day. At the moment it's way too small to sex properly.

In the mean time why not give it a neutral name?

Sam the ram? (i.e. Samantha or Samuel)

[rsanz]

I've been feeding it TetraMin flakes and frozen Blood Worms on a varying schedule. Would you recommend anything to add to this rotation? I am concentrated intently on raising this beautiful fish well and taking good care of it.

I thought that by now it should be old enough to be able to tell the sex of it, that is the only reason I asked.

[Cathy G]

It looks like a male to me. Blue dots/black splotch, and longer dorsal rays are not good indicators anymore. I go 2 things. Pinkness in the belly - this is a true tell tale sign, and the length of the back of the dorsal fin. Males have longer fins - they also usually come to more of an angular point. The females' dorsal fins in the back are rounder.

Cathy

New Life cichlid pellets, frozen spirolina enhanced brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, rams need a little more protein in their diet.

[rsanz]

The pinkness in the belly indicates female, correct?

[Cathy G]

Yep
Cath