South Africian Chiclids

Question
Can you please tell me how to tell the males from the females?  They are different colors, but the pet store said the males have egg spots on their bottom back fin.  Is this true, and also do the female chiclids brood the eggs in their mouth for 18 days?

Answer
Hi Judy,
All cichlids have egg spots so that's not the way to tell male from female.
Most of the time, the male is larger and MUCH more colorful.
It is true that the female will brood the eggs in her mouth for about 2 weeks and she will not eat also during that time.
What species do you have?