How to Tell If it Is a Male or Female Orange African Cichlid?

The red zebra cichlid, sometimes referred to in the U.S. as the orange African cichlid, is a monomorphic fish found in Lake Malawi in Africa that is reddish orange in color. Monomorphic fish are species in which males and females have similar looking bodies and features. Determining the sex of the cichlid, which is known as "sexing," can be difficult unless you know what you are looking for. One way to determine the sex is to monitor the cichlid's behavior; males grow to be more aggressive than females as the fish mature. However, the most accurate way of determining the sex of a red zebra cichlid is to utilize a process called "venting."

Things You'll Need

  • Powder-free rubber gloves
  • Jeweler's loupe
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on a pair of powder-free rubber gloves and a jeweler's loupe. A jeweler's loupe is a pair of glasses with magnifying lenses.

    • 2

      Wet the gloves with the fish tank water. Do not touch the cichlid with dry hands and work quickly; the goal is to make the venting as comfortable as possible for the fish.

    • 3

      Remove the cichlid from the water and hold it bottom side up, so its belly is visible.

    • 4

      Locate the vent, which is between the anus and the anal fin. See Resources for a labeled photograph.

    • 5

      Position your thumbs next to the vent, one on each side. Push your thumbs gently inward, causing the vent to slightly open. If needed, softly rub your thumb back and forth across the vent to expose the genitalia.

    • 6

      Examine the "bulb" that protrudes from the vent, which is the genitalia. Female orange African cichlids have large, round genitalia while males have long, tapered genitalia.

    • 7

      Place the cichlid back into the water quickly and gently.