As male fish develop, their bodies turn grey-ish or blue and display very dark blue stripes. Juvenile fish and females have yellow bodies with dark brown or black vertical stripes. The Bumblebee Cichlid (Pseudotropheus crabro) is easier to sex than other species.Let’s take a look at the most common mbuna species: Still, there are some color differences even in species with low sexual dimorphism. Not all species exhibit strong sexual dimorphism. Male and female fish often display different colors as they approach sexual maturity. We’ll take a closer look at these, one by one: – ColorationĬoloring is often the easiest way to distinguish between male and female mbunas. The main distinguishing characteristics between male and female Mbunas are color, size, fin shape, behavior, egg spots, and venting spots. When things aren’t so clear-cut, you’ll have to look for the less subtle signs.
![male and female red zebra cichlid male and female red zebra cichlid](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JjgPUD7uR5Q/maxresdefault.jpg)
However, this isn’t the case for all Mbuna cichlids. Most Mbuna species are dimorphic, which means that males and females have clear and distinct characteristics.
![male and female red zebra cichlid male and female red zebra cichlid](https://www.cichlids.com/uploads/tx_usercichlids/user_pics/7140/7140____file_01_redzebra.jpg)
#Male and female red zebra cichlid how to
But I’ll tell you exactly what to look for! Mbuna Male vs Female – How to Tell the Gender? Developing an eye for the subtle details takes time. It will help you organize your aquarium and breed your fish if you so choose. Distinguishing between Mbuna males and females isn’t always easy, but it’s an important skill.
![male and female red zebra cichlid male and female red zebra cichlid](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/83/3e/d3/833ed353e92a1933ee017e6debf9ae04--malawi-cichlids-african-cichlids.jpg)
If you plan to keep them in a group, you have to pay close attention to the ratio of male to female fish. However, Mbunas are quite aggressive and territorial. Quirky Mbunas bring life and excitement to any aquarium, no doubt. There are many species and colors to choose from. Despite being such an exotic group of fish, they’re quite popular and often a top pick for aquarists all over the world. Native to Lake Malawi, Mbuna Cichlids make up a large group of African freshwater fish species.