Lake Malawi Species • Visually Sexing Acei Msuli

[Iggy Newcastle]

I pulled this off a website that sells fish

You can tell the males and females apart simply by their fins in that the upper part of the male dorsal fin is iridescent and becomes yellow toward the back where the female fin is almost completely yellow.

Any truth to this? I have 6 of these guys. 3 of my fish show signs of this(2.5" or so). Well not 'iridescent' so much but kinda clear/white then tapering to all yellow the last 1/3 of the dorsal fin. The smallest of these 3 is definitely dominate over the whole group of acei. I have no doubt he is a male, and am looking forward to seeing him grow up.

Another question: Is the dominate male in mbuna always the largest?

Thanks.

[DJRansome]

I did not find this to be true when I had them. If true then I had all males, LOL. But fry appeared so some had to be female.

[Iggy Newcastle]

Thanks DJ. Guess I'll just have to wait and see...

[LanceN34]

Another question: Is the dominate male in mbuna always the largest?

Not necessarily, it depends on the species but its safe to say usually the largest fish is the most dominant of that certain species.

[Iggy Newcastle]

Thanks Lance. I'd like to see him retain his 'rank' because he's very impressive looking. Maybe I should five him some HGH...