Protomelas taeniolatus(red empress)

[degrassi]

I was wondering when these guys start getting any color? I have one about 1 1/2" long and it is still sliver with black stripes. I'm asking because i'm hoping its not a female.When do males color up?

I also have a "taiwan reef"(1 1/2") that i'm also wondering if it is a female since it is still sliver. When do these guys color up.

[SGypsyMermaid]

you're in for a wait...mine took over a year!

[degrassi]

it took over a year to notice any coloring at all? On the red empress or the taiwan reef?

[SGypsyMermaid]

red empress...but i think that somebody on the forum said that their taiwan reef took just as long. :shock:

[degrassi]

so it took over a year to get any coloring at all? I jsut want to be able to tell if it is male or female,I'm not talking full mature coloring.

[SGypsyMermaid]

as i recall, i bought three and i thought that they all had a hint of red in them...i lost one and am left with the male and a silver/black female. i never saw that hint of red in any of them once i got them home. this male did not color up gradually, but all of a sudden burst into full color.

[degrassi]

thanks for all the help. Its so hard waiting, but i know in the end it will be worth the wait.

[SGypsyMermaid]

look here for some poor pics of my guy--he's actually more vividly colored than he looks in these photos.

http://www.cichlidgallery.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album38

[SGypsyMermaid]

the second one has turned out to be a male, also. and now, the male that colored up first is kicking the crap out of the d. compressiceps! there's all kinds of madness going on in my tanks these days!:jaw:

[Overawed]

yeah who ever said Red Emps are not agressive?