Jack Dempsey Cichlids

Question
Hello Ron!  I recently (about a month ago)asked you some questions regarding the behavior of my two Jack Dempseys. (Jack and Jill) They were lip-locking and yawning.  Since then I've done a water change and added more realistic looking plants and flat rocks in anticipation of breeding. They keep me in a state of confusion.  Currently, Jack won't let Jill eat.  I understand they are aggressive but he rarely lets her leave the shelter of her rock tunnel.  I start thinking 'maybe she is a he...'  She's lost the richness in her coloring since she's been condemned to the tunnel.  Every so often she comes out and Jack starts this display; all fins out, colors galore and he starts wriggling or twitching.  I can't decide if he's trying to impress her or defeat her.  Is there a viable way to sex them?  I've read that the males have longer anal and dorsal fins that come to a point while the females are more rounded.  I've also read that the males will be larger with brighter colors.  I just can't be certain about the fins.  They're not cooperative enough to display side by side for me.  While they were similarly sized when Jill was introduced, Jack is Much larger now.  That's the background.  The crux of my question is--Do I need to seperate them?  What is the likelyhood that Jill is a male?  I'm doing more research myself but I would very much like to hear your opinion--and others out there if they have 10 cents!

Answer
Hi Leslie,
  Males MAY have longer fins and females MAY have less pointy fins but there is no rule that says that they have to be that way.  This is true for most all of Central American cichlids. For Jack Dempseys, there is no one single trait that you can point to and say "if it has that, it is a male" or "it is a female".  

 The growth differences could be due to sex differences but they could also be due to the larger fish dominating the smaller.  

  The fact that the male displays and does not simply destroy the smaller fish strongly suggests that the smaller is a female.  

  Personally, I would NOT separate them.  

  You say that you have done "a water change since then" (a month). You should be changing 25% once a week, every week to keep them happy and healthy.  

  You should add some more structure. Considering adding some large clay (new, never used) flowerpots with the bottom broken out, e.g., a coule of 6 inch pots.  That will give the female some options.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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