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I'm considering getting a pair of A. Thomasi and was having a look around a few LFS today. I've just got two questions (one of which I don't think you'll be able to help with).

1) Are there any tricks to sexing them? All the info I can find would suggest that it is very difficult, the best I can find is males are larger (not much use until they're adults), may be darker and may have pointed dorsal and anal fins.

2) In one store they were displaying them as butterfly cichlids, but instead of the black dots on their sides (as shown on the picture on the profile on this site, they had black stripes running the full height of the body. In some individuals the stripes were very ounced and in a few others it was very faint with only the dots being strongly visible. Is this a different fish?

Generally the tips to sexing are that males are bigger, have longer fins and are more brightly coloured. This isnt quite as easy in juvis but generally you can pick the differences. If you are unsure buy 3 or 4 and once you confirm a pair take the rest back.
A.Thomasi are sometimes known (or at least they used to be) as African Butterfly cichlids, so dont be surprised if you see them labelled are butterfly cichlids. The black stripe is probably due to stress, but it cant hurt to just watch them for a while and make sure that you have the right fish.
Good luck

Hre you go - embedded photo of Anomalochromis thomasi in breeding colours for your edification.

(Original from Ye Olde Innes Book with photographer credit deliberately included)



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Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002