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auratum

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Apr 1 08 1:58 PM

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Guys,

I think at least one of my gold JD's is a female!!! I started with 6 and have continued to separate the largest and most agressive fish from the group. My first split was to remove the largest 3 from the grow-out tank. The next largest fish promptly stepped up and began growing like crazy. About 2 weeks ago I pulled that fish and put it with the largest 3 fish - it had almost caught the other 3 in size.

So I have two fish remaining in the grow-out tank with my EBJD's. I started with 5 EBJD's from Hollywood and have two remaining. I am guessing the largest and most dominant of these EBJD's is a male. This largest EBJD and the largest of the two remaining gold JD's (#5) have been very tolerant of each other. They have also been very agressive towards the other EBJD and gold JD.

I noticed this morning some faint blue blotches on the gill plates of this #5 gold JD that has been getting along well with the largest EBJD. I had to use a flashlight to see it, but I think there is something there. The largest EBJD is ~ 3 1/2" inches and the #5 gold JD is ~3" TL. A little early to get too excited, but things are looking promissing!!!

Patrick

"The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it." - Chinese proverb

A champion is someone who gets up, even when he can't. - Jack Dempsey

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8901412

Posts: 709 Blue Specialist / Gold Breeder

#2 [url]

Apr 1 08 3:35 PM

I highly suspected my female was a female based on behavior well before I could see any blue on her gill plate. Then right before she spawned I started to notice the blue... When she had fry was the first time the blue gill plate was obvious (my fiance couldn't see it until then).

Now she has been mature for 3~4 months and has spawned a few times. Her gill plate is even more blue than it was 2... or 4... or 8... weeks ago...

So that doesn't help much but verifies there is hope! Once you've raised a solid handful of Dempseys and have seen a couple pairs 'fall in love' their behavior starts to become a give a way before other signs prove themselves... it's extremely interesting to watch them... make an educated guess... then let them prove me right or wrong...

Such a dynamic and educational hobby... we deserves grants...

Toby can be contacted at nc_nutcase@hotmail.com

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auratum

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Posts: 314

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Apr 1 08 6:36 PM

The only new world cichlids I have bred have been a hybrid of salvini and texas blue (by accident as a teen). I have bred quite a few africans, but they are different. Time to get some convicts - so I can raise my own feeders - tired of raising my own feeder guppies...

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