I'm pretty sure that's a female convict, I've seen mine get much darker/lighter stripes depending on whether they are in a sexual/breeding state. A healthy convict with a partner and ready to breed will get darker in color and the stripes become more defined. The stripes are always more defined on a male in my experience. I suspect this one is light in color because it has no other convicts with it, and possibly because it's stressed from being new.
zt
08-Nov-2007 09:04
to Paul i think the convict is a female.that is why the bands r lighter and there is a red spot on the belly.
Paul
29-Jan-2007 03:20
Really cool looking fish, I have one myself. (identical to yours).
Are you sure, it's a convict & not a flower horn.
I could be wrong, However, i've seen both species today at a fish store.
Convicts have solid stripes, just like a prison jumpsuit...
Let me know, what you come up with?
Paul III