Tropheus sexing ...

[velderton]

As I have written on other threads I am pretty much a novice when it comes to Tropheus sp. Is there any sure way to tell the sexes of breeding size fish?

I have experience with Malawi cichlids which are quite often sexual dimorphic for many species but I have to say except when I watch breeding actually occuring I am baffled with this genus.

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Exterior, they are mainly monomorphic.

Looking at the vents of mature sub-adults is the only way @ roughly 3".

Heads to the left and tail to the right, the anus is in front of the vent and females have larger vents than males.

Females vents will look this: <----oO--<

Males will look like this: <----oo--< OR <----o.--<

Duboisi are the only ones that are bit more challenging to vent at times because their eggs are smaller for some reason. So the females vent (Egg Chute) doen't get as stretched out and noticeable until after numerous spawns.