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I have a salvini in my tank that is about 4 inches. The tank has all male fish in it (I am pretty sure) except for a jewel that is a female. This salvini goes through phases of hiding in an earthen pot, I have placed in a tank, gets fat often, swims funny and has a protruding anus that is like a tube, but rounded at the end. The protrusion is about 2 mms (I think). After a few days, the projection disappears. The salvini is also constantly fighting with the other fish, but then that could be normal coz this is a cichlid tank with a very mean convict and texas in it.

Any ideas about whether the salvini is a male or a female. I have not discovered eggs so far, but the projection keeps appearing every few weeks.

Thanks,
Clowny.

I'm not sure about the swimming and pot guarding behaviors, but it sounds like the projection could be the fish's genital vent. Is it white-colored, and located between the anus and the anal fin of the fish? If so, it sounds like the vent. If it does not have a pointed tip, your fish is a female.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

99% of all female Sals have a large black blotch in the dorsal fin. Males don't have the blotch. HTH

Sorry for the very late response, I have no access to a computer at home or work, so have to go to a friendly neighbourhood cyber cafe

Yes, Sirbooks, the vent is right where you said it is and is white in colour. It is longish tubular, but has a rounded end. When you say pointed, am I looking for something that is conical in shape?

Yep, it is close to being conical. I'll admit that I don't know about any color differences between male and female salvinis, but as far as I know, all cichlids are vented the same. This article provides a pretty solid explanation, if that helps any.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

From the description in that link, I would have to say my salvini is most likely a female. The genital papilla (spelling?) is quite large and the article says that it is going to be larger in females than in males. Oh well, I was hoping for a male, since this is like a males only tank, but on the other hand, the salvini is doing quite well for itself. I guess, I will just let it be for as long as its doing well

Clowny.