how do i know if my african cichlids are pregnant? and how do i know if my cichlids are a male or female?

Question

ok one of my yellow african cichlid started to dig rocks out of our boat in the water. and the yellow african cichlid never gets out of the boat or lets any one in the boat.i dont know if it is laying eggs because i looked in the water and i didnt see any eggs.
also how would i know if my african cichlids are males or females some of my african cichlids have yellow spots by there vents and anal fin .

Answer 1

If you are talking about the yellow labs (or yellow electrics), they are sometimes hard to tell the sex of, but you can sometimes tell by the black stripe down the top and bottom fins. The males will have a thicker black stripe down the fins, and the female will have a thinner one. Also sometimes the female will have a paler yellow (almost whitish) on her belly and the male will be almost a solid yellow. This is not always true, but works sometimes. They are monomorphic meaning that it is pretty much impossible to positively identify the sex. But they are a maternal mouthbrooder, so if you do have a male and female and they have fry, the one that is holding will be the female. Below is a link to a little info on them.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=713

Answer 2

Most African Cichlids are mouthbrooders,so that's the place to look for eggs. There are dozens of "yellow african Cichlids", it would be a huge help to know what the species name is.
I am constantly amazed that people will just throw any attractive looking fish into their tanks without knowing anything at all about what they need to stay alive or what they will do to the other fish in the tank.

Answer 3

Your fish ought to probably be crammed with fry to the individuals who dont comprehend some cichlids are moutbroaders this implies they deliver there fry in there mouth till there 2-3 weeks previous. she could be nibbling and performing as though shes eating yet she relatively isn't, women human beings try this so they dont deliver alot of interest to them, they act as though each little thing is regular so they dont get forced on an identical time as there in a weakened state!