It is very easy to breed convict cichlids. You can have thousands of fry in just a few months if the environment is right. It can be hard to tell the difference between a male and a female convict-cichlid.

Some species can distinguish males from females at a glance. It is obvious by the color, size and shape. However, sexual dimorphism can be subtle and is often accompanied by convicts.

There are many opportunities for errors.

Today’s article will focus on how to distinguish male convict cichlids from females.

Convict Cichlid Male Or Female?

At first glance, male and female convicts appear almost identical. There are some differences. Males tend to be slightly larger than their female counterparts. Their fins are also longer and more pointed. The most obvious sign is the orange-colored female’s abdomen.

Let’s take a closer look at the following:

Males are Comparatively Larger

Male cichlids tend to be larger than their female counterparts. The average length of a male cichlid is 6 inches in an aquarium, while a female measures in at about 4.5 inches.

Fish grow at different rates as juveniles. A prodigy male can reach its maximum size in 6 months, or a late bloomer female.

If your cichlids are fully mature, it is not possible to tell the difference by using size.

Females have an orange belly

As they age and prepare to breed, the female bellies change into a gorgeous shade of orange. The dorsal fins can also show orange specks.

If your convict cichlid is orange in the belly, that means it’s about time for tiny fry to arrive.

Males have longer and more pointed fins

Convict cichlids have males with longer, more pointed dorsal or anal fins. Females, on the other hand, have smaller, more round fins.

This parameter might not be applicable to all fish. Female convicts have fins that extend beyond their tail fins, as I have seen.

Many hobbyists have also reported on fish forums that their males have short and round fins, and vice versa.

Females Have Rich Colors

Most fish have a higher percentage of males than females. However, convicts are not affected by this. Males are more vibrantly colored than females. Black stripes are more pigmented than the white ones.

However, males are believed to have more vertical stripes that females.

Males have a slight nuchal hump

The foreheads of male convict cichlids are steeper and have a small bump made from vestigial fat lump. Although it isn’t as prominent as a flowerhorn bump, it’s still present.

Females have a smooth, inclined forehead.

They have Different Gender Papillae

As with all fish, males and females have distinct gender papillae when they are in prison. The female’s papillae (also known as an ovipositor) is flattened and broad, which aids in laying eggs.

The flip side is that a male’s genderpapillae slightly sticks out, helping him release and deposit his sperm onto eggs.

Direction Of Egg Tube Is Different

The egg tube of a male convict cichlid points straight down. A female’s eggtube faces inward.

Size Of The Vent Is Different

To facilitate egg-laying, a female convict’s vent may be slightly larger than that of her anus. The vent of a male convict is nearly the same size as that of his anus.

White Convict Cichlid Male Or Female?

It is easy to distinguish a male white convict from a woman. It is easy to see the orange belly of the female against her white body. Other factors that can be used to distinguish the two are size and venting.

Pink Convict Cichlid Male Or Female?

Pink convict cichlids have slightly larger males than their female counterparts. The males have more flowing, longer fins. It can be difficult to see the orange belly of females against a pink background, but it is definitely a female.

Black Convict Cichlid Male Or Female?

Pay attention to the belly. If the belly is orange-tinged, it’s likely a female. Males tend to be a few inches larger than females. The fins can also be examined. Female fins are usually shorter and more round.

How To Vent Convict Cichlids Correctly?

Step 1 – Prepare 3 buckets

Step 2 – Confirm the vent’s position

Step 3 – Transfer the fish

Step 4 – Check vents

Step 1

Make 3 small buckets and fill them with water from the main tank. Although you can use only two buckets, I prefer to use three. After I have examined all of my fish, I transfer them to one bucket. Then, I transfer the males and females to the second bucket.

Step 2

It is important to be able to identify what you are looking for and where to find it. The vent is located above the anal fin in convict cichlids. If you are unsure of the location of the anal fin, it is the one closest to the tail.

The anal fin is located behind the cloaca on the ventral surface.

Step 3

Gently net the fish, then transfer them to the bucket. The fish will be startled and try to resist. Be patient with your fish.

Stress can make it difficult to inspect the vents if your fish is stressed. Take it slow, no matter how slow.

Step 4

Use your index and thumb to gently hold the fish on its side. Next, gently dip your head into the water to check for vents.

Keep the fish in water for no more than 30 seconds while you examine them. You might also want to inspect the vents with a magnifying lens.

Once you are done, transfer the fish into their buckets.

At What Age Can Convict Cichlids Breed?

Convict cichlids can grow at a remarkable rate. They also reach sexual maturity very quickly. By the time they reach 16 week, they are ready to mate.

They will form pairs and breed to care for their children.

How To Breed Convict Cichlids?

Convict cichlids can be described as the rabbits in the aquarium trade. They are prolific breeders and can reproduce quickly. They are also cave-spawners and make great parents.

You can breed convict cichlids by purchasing a few juveniles. Then wait for them to form pairs. Once a pair has formed, you can transfer them to your breeding tank. They are very intolerant of other tankmates.

By performing a water change and slightly raising the temperature, you can encourage them into breeding in your tank. You can use any aquarium-safe pot to create the cave.

The pair will shake heads as part of the mating ritual. They will also participate in a pre-spawning dance. They will circle one another and flake their fins.

Once he is ready, the male will place himself vertically before changing to darker, more intense colors. The female will soon follow his lead.

After the pre-spawning ritual has been completed, the eggs will be cleaned and small pits dug around the egg-laying site.

The size of the clutch is very large. A female can lay as many as 300 eggs. She will only lay between 20-40 eggs at a given time. The male will fertilize the eggs every time she lays an egg.

It can take several hours to lay all the eggs and fertilize them. Brood size can be affected by the health of the female and her maturity.

The iconic parental care of convict cichlid begins. To prevent fungus from growing, the mother will continue to fan the eggs. The male, on the other hand, will keep an eye out for potential predators. If they’re in a breeding facility, however, there won’t be any predators.

The egg’s hatching time depends on the temperature and pH. They rely on the nutrients in their yolk sacs for nutrition during the wiggler stage.

After 5-6 days, they are free-swimming fish. You can then give them baby brine shrimps, daphnia and pulverized flake foods.

Convict cichlids are exemplary parents, as I mentioned earlier. They will care for their children for many weeks. They will, for example, stir the sand in their stomachs to reveal food that has settled on the bottom. For the younger ones, they will chew food and throw it into the water.

They will often place the fry under the sand if they sense danger. If any of the eggs are found outside the nest, the male will guard them and then retrieve them.

The best thing about this is that the parents secrete a mucus like substance from their bodies which they then use as secondary food for the fry! Amazing, right?

Final Words: Convict Cichlid Male Or Female?

Convict cichlids are not too obvious or subtle to show sexual dimorphism. It may seem difficult at first to distinguish them, but a closer inspection is enough!

Female convict cichlids tend to be slightly larger than their male counterparts. Their fins are also longer and more pointed than other fish, although this may not be true for all fish. The most striking feature is the orange tint that only females have.

The color intensity, nuchal hump presence, gender papillae differences, direction of egg tube and vent size are all factors that can help to distinguish male convict cichlids from females.