[dietz31684]

I have a pair of bolivian rams that I just purchased two days ago. This morning I woke up and they were fighting. I have a malawi tank and have seen this many times, I am just wondering if this is a sure way to tell they are both male? Thanks -

 

[Joea]

I'm not 100% sure about Rams, but female Malawi cichlids will lock lips, as will a male and female.

 

[css virginia]

They certainly do..I have observed female cichlids lock jaws and with ferocity!! I had a couple of 2-3" female Haps. which would not only lock lips-but would face off from a distance of appx. 2"and then full speed ....SLAM.....into each other-lock-wrestle-back-off and do this repeatedly for several times. Never saw that before.... :lol: ...!!!

 

[dietz31684]

I have never tried to vent my fish, and my mbuna's are yellow labs, acei, rusties, and demasoni so they are not the easiest fish to sex. I have been wondering if all of the lip biting is male dominance or if felmales do it too.

Thanks for the info guys! :thumb:

 

[rachelchick]

my bolivian pair do this ALL the time. totally normal!!

 

[Afishionado]

They could be female. I kept two Bolivian Rams together for many years that I believe were both female and they would periodically engage in some lip-locking.

 

[Gary Biggs]

mostly males, but not always. a lot of breeders will do it too. It's just the cichlids way of getting the aggression out, before moving on