convict cichlids

[adrian]

I HAVE JUST STARTED KEEPING CONVICTS.I HAVE TWO F AND ONE M . THIS WAS ACCORDING TO THE SHOP. BUT THE MALE IS SHOWING SIGNS OF YELLOWING UNDER ITS BELLIE AND YELLOW ON THE DORSAL FIN.SURELY THIS IS THE SIGNS OF A WILLING FEMALE. ANY ADVISE WOULD BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED.

[AikidoGuy]

does it have orange on its belly?

[Molino]

Initially my male convict had a little orange on his belly when he was very small (~1"). I thought I had two females at the time.

How large are your convicts? If they are large enough and of comparable size it shouldn't be too hard to tell. As you mentionned the female will have some colouration on the fins (as well as an orange belly). The orange gets more noticeable as she is ready to lay eggs. The male can also have some colouration on the fins, but not nearly as much.

Another good way to tell is their fins, longer pointier fins will tend to be on the males, however this probably won't be too noticeable until they are at least 1" in lenth.

[friend of oscar]

Some males especilally older ones tend to get yellow and blue on thier stomachs and fins. Its the female that gets the orange. If you do have a male and 2 females then I would take one of the females back because one of them will most likely breed witht he male and the female left behind will get beta up.