Copadichromis Azureus behavior/sexing

[aquashelle]

I have a trio of juvenile Copadichromis Azureus (Is there a common name for these guys??)

Anyway, since they are roughly 2inches, all carry the grey body with the characterstic dot on their sides. My question is this:

When will the male begin to show color?

And secondly, the smallest of the trio has been being somewhat aggressive tonight, he/she becomes rather dark, especially in the fins and eyes stripe, and chases any fish who comes close. Could this be my male, trying to grow up a little?

Or should I already be seeing color, and possibly have three females?

The trio lives in a standard 55 with a taiwan pair, and a sunshine trio.

Pretty much any advice/experience is welcomed and appreciated!

[aquashelle]

bump

[Brentpitt]

C azureus

The easy part - as far as I know there is no popular name. Also from everything I read and hear, who knows if any of us really have them or not - I have bunches of what I was told were C. azureus, but "experts" say the mature males are not barred - but every picture I see has barred males. Oh, well.

Usually the males are larger than the females - at least they are at maturity and maximum growth, so your smallest fish may not be male. I have seen some females get a little "testy" with each other. And some females will get kind of dark.

I am really not good with lengths - I don't approximate well and these guys just don't hold still when I try to put a ruler up next to the tank. It seem like to me about the earliest true indicator of sex for a male is some blue beginning in the dorsal fin. ANd then it spreads everywhere. Of course the surest sign of sex for a female is when she is holding eggs or fry, then you know FOR SURE!

I'm no expert - this is from my observation of what I assume are my own C. azureus. I'm certain that there are much knowledgeable people on the 'Box. Maybe one of them will give you a better answer.

Brent