Instructions
Compare the heads of the fish. Males of many species such as the green terror have a prominent forehead with a bump called a nuchal hump, whereas the female's head is smooth and round. The African buffalohead male has a very prominent nuchal hump.
Look at the colors of the cichlids. In colorful members of this family, the male may be brighter in color. For example, the males of the deepwater hap cichlid species have more intense blue coloring.
Compare the sizes of the adult fish. Often male cichlids are larger than the female cichlids.
Observe the fins of the adult cichlids. In many species the male's fins are larger and more filled out than the females.
Take a photo of your fish, or the fish itself, to your local aquarium store if you cannot identify the sex. With the many hundreds of species inhabiting African rivers, lakes, brackish and ocean waters, you may need an expert to visually inspect your fish to look for markings specific to your species.
How to Identify Males & Females in African Cichlids
The Cichlidae, commonly termed chichlid, family is comprised of about 2,000 species and spans the globe from lakes in South America to lakes in Africa. The African species in this family are diverse, including large-bodied and blue-faced African buffalohead cichlids to the bright yellow and sleek Kennyi Mbuna cichlids. However there are some similarities among the species that can help you determine if you have a male or female.