Thoughts On The Sex Of This Rotkeil Severum

[karin]

This rotkeil is about a year and one half old. I thought it was a "she". "She" is in the tank with a super red severum whom I'm calling a "he". BUT, they have been together 6 months and there is little aggression between them (a wee bit of chasing initiated by the smaller but older rotkeil) but no breeding behavior at all. I started wondering if they were both "he" fish. What do you think? I know the super reds are hard to sex and I'm just saying I think it is a "he"... probably because his name is Tony. The rotkeil has beautiful blues and long fin extensions that don't come out well in the photos. Thanks

 

[Boxer_Gaz]

Sorry haven't got a clue but they are stunning fish.

I'm so jealous. Cant wait to have a 5 or 6 foot tank and a few decent cichlids.

 

[minnnt]

Boys...?

 

[fishprotector]

Rotkeil looks male. Not sure on the red.

 

[Wills]

Red looks male Rotkiel looks female - The red has the marking across his nose where as the Rotkiel does not which is usually a good indicator.

Wills

 

[fishprotector]

Fair enough lol you are normally right about these things

 

[karin]

Thanks everyone. Here is an interesting thing. Another forum, whose name shall remain unspoken, decided after a bit of debate that the rotkeil is a male. The reason they arrived at that is that most females do not have markings on the cheeks and near the eyes but are totally blank like the area between the eyes currently. Sort of a poorly marked male or perhaps given the state of the chemicals in our waters, a male with changes toward females because of the chemicals? Just a thought there. I just remember reading studies about this issue in salmonid species... males with too much estrogen.

Just found a link in case: http/pubs.usgs.gov/fs/FS-081-98/

Either way I guess there is enough there to be questionable? I don't really care. Personally I don't want breeding in my tank because I like the peace. But we will see. In the mean time Bean (originally Mr. Bean and then because I thought it was a female, Bean) is beautiful regardless of sex.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Red looks male Rotkiel looks female - The red has the marking across his nose where as the Rotkiel does not which is usually a good indicator.

Wills

+1

 

[bonzo]

Both male. Rotkeil females have blue faces with no squiggles.

 

[onidrase]

The red one looks male and the rotkiel looks female

cause wills said so

 

[bonzo]

Our male and female. Male on right female on left

 

[Wills]

The red one looks male and the rotkiel looks female

cause wills said so

Both male because Bonzo usually puts me in my place haha!!

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I think both my sevs are male now both of mine have markings on their face

 

[karin]

Well that picture settles it. Thanks everyone. It is back to Mr. Bean!

 

[bonzo]

The red one looks male and the rotkiel looks female

cause wills said so

Both male because Bonzo usually puts me in my place haha!!

Not usually, just when your wrong lol.