The Neverending Quest for Sex ID: Apistogramma Cacatuoides

**CacaManiac** · 15th Aug 2006, 19:18

well i have got these 3 cacaa .. Said to be Female by the LFS owner.. not that i don't trust his judgement or that of his supplier. here are the pics..
i just want to confirm.. Big Smile..

**Orion** · 15th Aug 2006, 19:27

They are females yes! Do tell us your sucess story when they breed.

**CacaManiac** · 15th Aug 2006, 19:46

thanks man... let see what others think as well... they are kind of small now... my male is 3 inches whilst these guys are only an inch or so... i need to let them grow abit first.

**genes** · 15th Aug 2006, 19:49

Easily identified with their black ventrals

**CacaManiac** · 15th Aug 2006, 19:56

thanks Genes... here a pic of the male who has killed his past two mates

**genes** · 15th Aug 2006, 21:41

Why does it kill your females? Tank too small?

**CacaManiac** · 15th Aug 2006, 22:38

hmm well he didnt really kill the female... the first died of bloat... the second had an ulcer in it's gills...
the male pestering them when they were sick was not really a good thing for them... so they died

**StanChung** · 15th Aug 2006, 22:43

Doubt there's an answer. infact both sexes can be as bloodthirsty. Smaller female can whack bigger males!

Me thinks they need their hiding space[out of direct line of sight] otherwise it's non stop harassment till death do us part.

**sheng** · 16th Aug 2006, 08:24

female indeed.
Provide more hiding place ( more Drift wood) for the females

**CacaManiac** · 17th Aug 2006, 22:50

ok that all, i can do... but when do you think it is safe to introduce the females to the male... because now they are living in the same tank but seperated by a clear acrylic divider...
he's much bigger than them though..
3 inch vs 1 1/4 inch

**sheng** · 18th Aug 2006, 11:59

Wait till the female belly turn "black"

**CacaManiac** · 18th Aug 2006, 22:24

Sheng Bro... i don't really understand what you mean... any pics to show me what they need to look like before they are allowed to do the nasty?

**joopsg** · 18th Aug 2006, 22:37

Cacamaniac, add some dither fish to the breeding tank and they will be loving. This is what i used to do when introducing a new pair.

**CacaManiac** · 18th Aug 2006, 22:46

hmm ok well i was planning on letting him mingle with all 3 and see who he likes most.... or would be most probably do all 3?

also waiting to see what Sheng meant by their black bellies.
you got any idea dude?

i've got 2 golden pencils ready to be their dither buddies.

**genes** · 18th Aug 2006, 22:57

get more pencils...2 is not enough... get a small school... provide alot of hiding place with 3 females inside your tank, my experience is that the male will mate with one female, and he might turn nasty towards the other females, or the breeding female will turn nasty towards the other females. Good luck!