Pet Forum / Aquaria / Cichlids / May 2004

On adults, the dorsal & anal fins are longer.  On juveniles, watch the
tank quietly for several minutes.  The male will usually be identifiable
as the most dominant, and sometimes the most aggressive eater, slightly
darker colouration, will show some tolerance for certain fish (females)
and a marked intolerance for others (sub-dominant males).  With middle
aged Severums, which are not in a pecking order environment, it's a crap
shoot.  If there is more than one and they are similar sized, then the
fullness of a female might give her away, but I find behaviour more
revealing than appearance.