Apisto Gender Confirmation Please?

[soybean]

I went to my LFS last weekend with the intention of talking about what the guy could order in for me, when I spotted these cockatoo apistos that had been brought in unwanted by someone else, looking rather forlorn in a little cube on the oddball/fighter display. They were just displayed as 'A. Cacatuoides - Red - Pair' but the owner admitted he didn't know 100% that they are a male and female pair. But I wasn't really bothered because despite looking so drab, they looked so miserable in their cube I had to take them home. I'm like that

Anyway, after a few days in my tank, the larger ones fins have coloured up more and I assume I do have a male and female - but I've been reading a lot about sexing them and it doesn't seem to be always that simple, and I might have a younger/smaller undeveloped second male? Or maybe even two females.

The larger one has the crested fins and a a lyretail. The smaller one does not, but it has definitely developed more colour since bringing it home. Neither seem particularly interested in the other or in the caves/crevices in the tank, and I haven't seen any territorial behaviour. But I would like to know exactly what they are so that I can get a couple more, aiming for 1m:3f.

Link to the photobucket album slideshow. Quite a few photos but hopefully the differences between the two are obvious enough and offer enough views of both. They are never next to each other long enough to take a photo of them together.

I'd really appreciate any opinions on if they are definitely m & f. Thanks!

 

[Westwood]

I would definitely say you have a male and female there!
Btw in one of your pics I saw a cherry shrimp, they will kill them, even if they don't eat them.

 

[soybean]

I would definitely say you have a male and female there!
Btw in one of your pics I saw a cherry shrimp, they will kill them, even if they don't eat them.

Good to hear! I'll be on the lookout for more females.

As for the cherry shrimp, I'll keep an eye on them but so far they've completely ignored them. They ignore everything really (for now). And the female is pretty much the same size as the cherry shrimp!

 

[soybean]

Can I also ask, is the reason she isn't colouring up in the body because she's too young, not in the mood, because they're not paired up, or a combination of these? I do intend to add more females, but if I didn't is there a chance these two would never pair up, or is it somewhat inevitable?

 

[sswm]

That will be the females colour until they are actively breeding. She will then turn yellow through the whole breeding and rearing process. They arent too picky when it comes to pairing up so dont worry about that.

 

[ApistoNut]

i need to add my photos of my apistos to try and sex them as im also having great difficulty, you can find my pics in tropical discussion. I would say you def have a male and female from what iv been told the males have several longer fins on the front of dorsal.

 

[soybean]

I've been watching these guys a lot. The male has started pecking/mouthing the female if she gets too close to him, though neither appear to be territorial about any areas of the tank, and they don't spend much time together. The female's dorsal fin is also getting more colourful every day, and she's not exactly shy despite being so small, but the male is usually hidden in the plants somewhere.

The shape of their tails and mouth size still reassure me it's a male and female though.

Funny little things. Love the female, the way she comes to the front and eyeballs you. Reminds me of a female betta I had once, sometimes. Still on the lookout for more females but nowhere locally can guarantee the sex of what they order vs what arrives because they get them so small.

Wondering if online might be better? Any specific UK breeders that sell online?

 

[ApistoNut]

what would you say about these fish male or female??