[teenyshu]

I have a predominately female tank (60 gal) of african cichlids.

i have two auratus cichlids that were female. today i noticed one of them looks completely different.

i read online that in a predominately female tank - that the dominate female will change into a male.

could this be what is happening? is that even true in the first place? can these fish do that?

 

[DJRansome]

It was recently verified in a lab that it can happen. But I think it would be extremely rare in our tanks since the fact has been vigorously denied by experienced fishkeepers all these years.

So...it is more likely that your fish is just changing color. This is very common.

 

[dielikemoviestars]

Agree with DJR. It's either been a male all along and is finally taking on his adult coloration or it's the dominant female taking on male coloration. Both of these are hundreds of times more likely than a sex change.

 

[teenyshu]

thank you so much for your suggestions.