How to Tell the Difference Between Male & Female African Cichlids

There are many varieties of African cichlids. All are freshwater fish. All African cichlid fish are sexually monomorphic. This means that both the male and female look exactly the same. Determining sex does take a little bit of experience but can be achieved through a few techniques. Mouth-breeding African cichlids are often easier to determine the sex of versus other species. Sex can normally be determined between 4 months to 6 months of age. It is easier to determine the sex of larger fish because they offer a larger vent area to view.

Things You'll Need

  • Jewelers loupe with 20mm lens
  • Lighted hat or helmet
  • Flashlight
  • Magnifying glass
  • 5 gallon buckets, 3
  • Marking pen
  • Fish net
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Instructions

    • 1

      Label three five gallon buckets with a marker. One bucket will be for males, one bucket will be for females, and one bucket will be for fish whose sex you are unsure of and unable to determine. Fill the buckets halfway with water.

    • 2

      Place a lighted hat on your head to easily see the fish's vent region. You can also have an assistant hold a flashlight aimed at the fish that is being sexed.

    • 3

      Catch the fish gently from the aquarium using a fish net. Make sure your hands are wet when you reach into the net to remove the fish. Wet hands will lessen any damage done to the fish and its scales.

    • 4

      Hold the fish firmly between your fingers and tip it upside down. Use a loupe or magnifying glass to look closely at the fish's vent.

    • 5

      Mouth-breeding African cichlid females lay a large egg so their vent hole will be slightly larger than the males. Neolamprologus African cichlids are substrate egg layers and this makes their vent differences harder to distinguish between the male and female. The male Julidochromis African cichlid has a tapered papilla on its vent. Gently run your finger across the vent of the Julidochromis African cichlid to determine if the papilla moves and is there. This will indicate male verses female with its presence.

    • 6

      Look closely at the mouth of the Tropheus moorii African cichlid to determine its sex. The lips of a Trophius moorii African cichlid male will be much thicker and fuller than the female. The older the fish gets, the more pronounced the lip differences become. This fish can also be sexed by looking at the vent opening, but identification through lips is far less stressful than turning the fish over to exam it.