Sexing my blood parrot cichlids

Hello! I have had my two blood parrot cichlids for almost 6 years and they are roughly 10 and 12 inches. I am wondering if anyone can confirm my guess as to their sex! First picture is what I believe to be a male with an almost flowerhorn like forehead bump that’s become more pronounced- larger in size with pointier and longer dorsal/anal fins extending past his tail. Second photo my maybe female- smaller in size, shorter fins not extending past her tail and slightly less pointy although I don’t think they are considered round. Females may have round or pointy dorsal/anal fins so it’s not definitive.

They have recently been displaying mating behavior. My maybe male has been digging a big nest while my maybe female has been patrolling keeping the tetras away. They have been “kissing” aka fighting more than usual and flapping their bodies next to each other which is what articles have described as their mating dance. I have never seen my maybe female lay eggs but they have been at this for 4 days. I did a water change yesterday and leveled out their hole only for him to dig a new one in the same spot.

Ps I know the male is likely infertile as this is a hybrid species but still interested to know their sex even if breeding isn’t on the table!

Thoughts?! Thanks

I have no idea about these fish so did a quick Dr Googly and there are websites that suggest females remain much smaller than males and don't become as deep in the body. So possibly both of yours are male.

The fact they have not bred in 6 years would also suggest 2 males.

If they were normal cichlids I would say they are both males due to the long pointed dorsal and anal fins but Dr Googly shows images of females with long pointy fins so that is not going to help.

Apparently males get the big gross lump on their head and females don't. One of yours sort of has a little bump and the other doesn't so maybe yes it's a pr, maybe no it's not.

Their behaviour (mouth locking and pushing each other) is typical for cichlids testing new partners to see if the partner is strong enough to care for the young. Males sometimes do this when fighting but normally it is a male vs female thing. However, if your fish have never seen a female (or not since they were little), you could have 2 males that are wanting to breed and going through the motions, but won't be able to produce eggs.

If a cichlid ever shows any breeding behaviour and digs a hole/ depression in the substrate, do not fill the hole up or you might cover up eggs or fry.

If they ever produce an ovipositor (egg laying tube), look at that to identify the sexes. Males have a long thin ovipositor, whereas females have a short wider ovipositor. If both of your fish have the same type/ size of ovipositor, they are both the same sex.

My opinion, you have 2 males but I'm not a specialist with the fish in question.